Cook Memorial Public Library District

Books, Reading, and Writing

Library Services for Readers

Find a book in the Library's online catalog

Storytimes & Reading Clubs
Check our program guide to find out about our latest offerings!

Book Badgers Reading Club
Our collect-a-badge reading club for independent readers. From September to May.

The librarians recommend...
Looking for a good book? Take a look at our suggestions.

The Custom Shoppe for Independent Readers
Are you always searching for the perfect book? Look no further...The “Custom Shoppe” will design a book list made just for you! Our personalized reader’s advisory service is here to devise a unique title list for readers enjoying the Junior or Youth fiction collections. Just stop by the Children’s Reference desk and fill out a short questionnaire. There is no charge for this service... It's our job to find the perfect books for you!

Reading Levels

Accelerated Reader lists
Find the AR list for your school!

The Lexile Framework for Reading A reading measurement system used by Hawthorn Schools.

Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Books A book list using the reading measurement system used in District 70

Leveled Books Database (Beaverton School District) A book database featuring the reading measurement system used in District 70

Leveled Lists by Publisher (Aldert Root Elementary School) Book lists using the reading measurement system used in District 70

Leveled Book Lists (McCarthy-Towne School, Acton, Massachusetts) Book lists using the reading measurement system used in District 70

Databases & Encyclopedias

Literature Resource Center
Database. Provides access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors and titles from every age and literary discipline.

Lit Finder
Database. Lit Finder is a database of poems, speeches, stories, essays, and plays that can be searched by title, author, subject, or keyword. Some are available in full text versions.

Novelist K-8
Database. Discover fiction titles popular with young readers, browse hundreds of theme-oriented book lists for readers at all grade levels through Explore Fiction, and look for award-winning and recommended titles in Best Fiction.

Read the Books
Database. An interactive website that lets you choose a great book to read by grade level and/or topic; tells what the story is about; lets you rate the book; and offers some literature-based games to play.

Authors & Illustrators

Author websites from Yahooligans Links to over 300 author sites.

Authors & Illustrators New York Public Library’s index to author & illustrator websites.

Children’s Authors and Illustrators from “The Best Kids’ Book Site.”

Books & Reading

RIF Reading Planet Play games like Poetry Splatter, Supermarket Spree, and Alphabet Soup at the Game Station. Illustrate a story in the activity lab, find a great read in the Book Zone, and write your own book reviews!

Page by Page: Creating a Children's Book How a story goes from an idea to a book. "Have you ever read a great book and wondered how it was made? You may have asked yourself questions like : What is the author like? Does he raise llamas or wear green socks?" Find out the answers to these and other questions about authors and publishing.

ALA Recommended Reading These recommendations from the American Library Association include Notable Books, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal for picture books.

BookHive Hundreds of recommended book reviews for different reading levels and interest areas, for children from birth through 12 years. Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.

Book Safari Ela Area Public Library’s Children’s book review database contains hundreds of books reviewed by librarians. Find books by book award, grade, or subject. Children can add their own notes, create lists, or link to the online catalog.

Children’s Choices This booklist from the International Reading Association reflects books read in classrooms and voted upon by students.

International Children’s Digital Library 300+ children’s books from around the world that you can read online.

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Award Illinois students in 4 th – 8 th grade choose their favorites from a list of all different genres and reading levels. Which one do you like the best?

Poetry

The Amazing, Super-Marvelous Poetry Memorizer! Choose a famous poem or type in whatever you'd like to memorize, and the Amazing Super-Marvelous Poetry Memorizer will help you learn it.

Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky Turn your thoughts into poems in Jack Prelutsky's poetry workshop!

Mythology

Encyclopedia Mythica An award-winning internet encyclopedia of mythology, folklore, and religion.

Greek Mythology Galore The stories of the Greek gods and goddesses.

Myths, Folktales, and Fairy Tales Write a myth with Jane Yolen, write a fairy tale with Jon Scieszka, and more in this great web site from Scholastic.

Windows to the Universe: Mythology Gods and goddesses of different cultures around the world.

Folk & Fairy Tales

Aesop's Fables An online collection of over 650 fables by Aesop, the Greek "father" of the fable. The stories are illustrated and you can even listen to them via RealAudio!

Blue Fairy Book The famous book of fairy stories by Andrew Lang. Includes Puss in Boots, Hansel and Gretel, the Goose-Girl, and more. Also, see the Red Fairy Book and the Violet Fairy Book.

Grimm's Fairy Tales The fairy tales of the brothers Grimm.

Tales of Wonder Folk and fairy tales from around the world.

Kids' Writing & Publishing

Want to be a writer? Here's your chance to become a published author! All of the magazines in this section publish kids' writing. Each one has different rules, so make sure you check each site's submission guidelines before sending in your work.

Creative Kids The country's largest magazine by and for kids. Features games, stories, poetry, pen pals, mysteries, and more for kids 8-14.

New Moon Fiction, poetry, artwork, cartoons, and more, by and for girls ages 8-14.

Skipping Stones A multicultural magazine for kids that includes stories, articles, and photos by and for kids all over the world.

Spring Tides A literary magazine for children ages 5-12. Stories and poems with or without illustrations are welcome.

Stone Soup A magazine made up entirely of kids' stories, poems, book reviews, and artwork. Stone Soup welcomes submissions from children up to age 13.