The 2025 Illinois Reader's Choice Books are here and available for checkout!
There are 60 titles across the three lists and we have plenty of copies of each. Check out the lists below:
Find Monarch Books in the Catalog.
Find Bluestem Books in the Catalog.
Find Caudill Books in the Catalog.
Also coming soon, is a year long Beanstack reading challenge for grades K-8! Depending on your grade, you can sign up for the Monarch, Bluestem, or Caudill challenge and read your way to some prizes! Check Beanstack on April 1st for more information!
Youth Services Librarian Claire
There is a new section in our collection! At the start of Juvenile Fiction, we now have an Early Chapter Book section! Early Chapter Books are books that have a low page count, shorter chapters, and lots of illustrations. They make perfect books for readers who have mastered Beginning Readers and are ready to move on to longer chapter books. You may recognize some popular books here - Mercy Watson, Princess in Black, and Heidi and Henry Heckelbeck. There are plenty of new titles to discover here, so take a look and find your new favorite book!
Looking for some personalized selections? Fill out a Browsing Bundle Request Form and get a bag full of books picked just for you!
Youth Services Librarian Claire
Happy New Year! We read a ton of great books in 2023 - most of these titles are on the Illinois Readers' Choice Award Lists (Monarchs, Bluestems, and Caudills). Here are the top titles that were read at the Barrington Area Library!
Picture Book:
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Chez Bob by Bob Shea |
Beginning Reader:
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Happy Pig Day! by Mo Willems |
Juvenile Fiction:
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney |
Juvenile Graphic Novel:
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Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A. F. Venable |
Teen Fiction:
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Alone by Megan E. Freeman |
Teen Graphic Novel:
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City of Dragons. The Awakening Storm by Jaimal Yogis |
Nonfiction:
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Fallout: spies, superbombs, and the ultimate Cold War showdown by Steve Sheinkin |
eBook:
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling |
What books are you going to read in 2024? You can sign up for Winter Reading here! Read 250 minutes and earn a free book!
Youth Services Librarian Claire
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Assistant Librarian, Larissa!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
My favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library is the community! My Youth Services team are both kind and creative. I enjoy working with the library customers for both reader’s advisory and the programs, especially with story times and STEM-related activities. My own children are now school-aged, but when they were little we often spent time at the library to read, play, and partake in multiple programs. Now I delight in being able to give back to young children and their families!
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
My favorite series growing up was Harry Potter! I still remember waiting outside of the bookstore with my mom at midnight for the release of the new books and then staying up late into the night reading them! Some of my favorite adult authors as an adult include Matthew Kelly, Emily Giffin, and Taylor Jenkins Reid.
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
When I am not working at the library, I like to spend time with my family and friends, read, travel, cook, volunteer as a Girl Scout Leader, partake in Yoga & Zumba classes, and recently I have learned to play pickle ball!
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
If I could be a character in any book then I would chose Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. Hermione is kind, smart, and brave. She loves to read and learn new things. Hermione stands up for what is right and she always is there for her friends.
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
My Favorites: (aka fun facts about me)
Color: Purple
Book: Harry Potter Series
Movie: The Wizard of Oz
Food: Spaghetti
Dessert: Anything with chocolate!
Sport: Ice Skating
Game: Sushi Go
Animal: Penguin
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Librarian Chris!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
Encouraging and indulging a lifelong love of books in young people is a special thing, especially when I'm learning just as much about literature from the children as they are from me.
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
I have to be careful, because I could just fill this whole post with this answer. But some of my favorite children's series include A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, the Lewis Barnavelt series by John Bellairs, Abarat by Clive Barker, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, and the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix. Another well-loved series, but hard to find nowadays, is the Culpepper Adventures series by Gary Paulsen.
Individual favorites include Howl's Moving Castle, Coraline, and (more recently) Peter Pan and Inkheart.
Genre-wise, I tend to gravitate toward realistic fiction, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery. I'm also a big comics and manga fan but that's for another post!
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
Here’s a non-answer to this question: I started editing videos for our YouTube channel when we were mostly closed to the public during COVID, and I’ve kept up with it ever since. Nowadays I’m the editor for our channel, and I make videos myself. I especially love filming booktalks, of course!
I’ve learned a little bit about editing thanks to my work on the YouTube channel, but I want to know more! I’ve started wondering if I should work on creative, personal projects.
So in this case, my work at the Library has inspired me to pursue a new hobby!
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
I read a lot, of course, and write when I can. Poetry, fiction, etc. If I'm not doing any of those things I'm probably playing video games or watching scary movies or anime.
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
I would be Candy Quackenbush from Abarat. Candy gets to leave her small Midwestern town, just like I did, and go on adventures with all sorts of amazing creatures, who seem scary at first but are just as human as she is, just as loving.
I’ve always loved monsters. I’ve drawn them and written about them since I was a little kid, and to this day I’m sympathetic to monsters. I’m pretty faithful to weird and scary things.
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
I collect toys. My desk is absolutely covered with them. I’ve always wanted to make toys, especially puppets… maybe I should give it a try!
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Welcome back to a new school year! Since the school year is in full swing, we will be continuing our Literacy Blog to provide some fun tips and activities for beginning, independent, and emerging readers. We ended our series with identification of the story setting. This month, we will be focusing on another Story Element- Character Traits.
What is the purpose of identifying character traits? Character traits help readers understand the characters in a story. It helps the reader to understand why the characters do what they do.
A Character Trait is a description of a character in the story. These traits can be outer or external traits or inner or internal traits.
Outer traits or external traits are easier to introduce. These are traits that are physical. Ask yourself; what can I see?
Some examples of outer or external traits are eye color, height, hair color, etc.
Inner or Internal traits can be a little tougher to identify because these are traits you must infer (inferring is when you use clues the author gives you and your own knowledge to recognize traits) in order to determine something. Ask yourself; what clues is the author giving me? What do I know about that?
Some examples of internal traits are what a character says, actions they do and feelings, or thoughts they have. An example of an internal trait is “Jean went over to console a friend who was crying.” This may be an example of a character being sympathetic, because they are empathetic towards a friend who is unhappy.
You can apply this to any book (board books, picture books, and chapter books.)
Here are some books that showcase Character Traits
Activities
The following activities will provide practice in identifying external and internal traits of characters you encounter as you read.
Activity: What Are Your External and Internal Traits?
- You will need 2 body outline templates; these can be found online, or you can draw them yourself. Label one sheet, “External Traits,” and label the other, “Internal Traits.” (see the images below)
- Identify your External Traits: Begin by focusing on your External Traits. (External Traits are your appearance) Use adjectives to describe your appearance, or your External Traits. What color is your hair? What color are your eyes? Describe your height. Write these describing words on the “External Traits” sheet. Write the words on the outside of the body image.
- Once you have documented your External Traits, use the second image to describe your Internal Traits. Remember, these traits cannot be seen from the outside. (Internal Traits encompass your personality, emotions, skills, and interests)
Write these words on the inside of the body outline.
*Personality traits: friendly, confident * emotions (grumpy, sad),
*Skills (artist, athlete) * interests (reading, cooking).
By following these directions and using body outlines on paper to describe External and Internal Traits, you can create a visual representation of any individual or character.
Extend and Explore
In the story Nobody Hugs a Cactus by Carter Goodrich, Hank changed his feelings and attitude (internal traits) during the story. Draw a picture of Hank at the beginning of the story, and another picture of him at the end of the story. You can see how Hank’s unique traits contributed to his personality and played a role in how the story develops.
Activity: Which Wall
This fun activity helps to explore and understand different character traits and will help your reader understand the difference between External and Internal Traits.
1. Gather two index cards. Write EXTERNAL TRAITS on one card & INTERNAL TRAITS on the other card.
2.Tape the cards on opposite walls.
3. Have your reader stand in the middle of the room.
4. Say a character trait and your young reader will go to the wall it matches. For example, if you say “bossy”, they will go to the “Internal Traits” wall.
Need a wordlist to get you started? Here are a few suggestions:
| External Traits | tall | short | brown hair | fuzzy tail | freckled | well dressed | floppy ears | green eyes |
| Internal Traits | bossy | lazy | curious | alert | jealous | shy | outgoing | creative |
Extend and Explore
Using several index cards, write different character traits on each card. Place the cards, face down, and take 1 card from the pile. Without anyone else seeing the card, the reader will describe a scenario or situation that exemplifies the word on the card. For example, if the card says “honesty” the reader might describe a situation where someone finds a lost wallet and returns it to its owner.
Practice Makes Perfect!
Understanding character traits is important to help a reader understand the story. Identifying character traits can help the reader understand a character’s motives, feelings, and actions. You can practice identifying external and internal traits in any book. Your reader can even think about external and internal traits of themselves or family members.
Be sure to check out our Beginning Reader and Early Learning Kits, available in the YS Department.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Erin
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Karen
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Assistant Erin!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
My favorite part of working at the library is the people. I am fortunate to work with such a kind, fun, and creative staff. It is also great to see both familiar faces and new faces enjoying the Youth Services space.
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
As an avid reader, this is a tough question! I try to read many different genres, but I tend to gravitate towards realistic and historical fiction. I enjoy anything written by Erin Entrada Kelly: Blackbird Fly, and Those Kids from Fawn Creek. For younger readers, Maybe, Maybe, Marisol Rainey is always a win in my book! I also love historical fiction and books by Jennifer Nielsen.
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
As a former educator, I try to search for books and materials viewed from a parent/teacher lens. I have really enjoyed working on Literacy Blogs with my co-worker and enjoy sharing books that can highlight strategies and skills taught in the classroom using picture books.
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
When I am not working at the library, I love spending time with my family, going on hikes, kayaking, practicing yoga, visiting different coffee shops, and of course reading.
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
A character I have always admired and tried to emulate in a book is Jo March from Little Women. This is a book I can read over and over again. I always admire Jo’s confidence, fun spirit, loving and giving nature, and her strength in times of challenge.
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Welcome to our series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have Youth Services Librarian Claire!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
My favorite part of the library is the people here! My coworkers are the absolute best and I love getting to work with them. It's also so nice getting to know the familiar faces that come into our department all the time.
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
Some of my favorite books growing up were Matilda and the Percy Jackson books and they've remained favorites of mine. I like reading a bunch of different genres of both adult and children's books like fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. Once I find a book or series I really love, I could reread it time and time again!
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
I have almost too many hobbies! I crochet, bake, read, paint, sew, and quilt! I'm not a very artistic person, but I am crafty and I love to bring these things to the library and share my enthusiasm with others. We've done some sewing, painting, and even candle making recently and it's been so much fun introducing these things to everybody that comes!
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
I definitely love to read, but I also enjoy baking, playing with my dog, and even doing genealogy research. I started researching my family history quite a few years ago and I now have more than 250 people in my family tree and can trace some lines back to the 1600s! I hope to travel to the places where my many ancestors are from one day.
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
If I had to be a character in one of our books, I would want to be Annabeth Chase! I told you I love the Percy Jackson series!
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Is your little one nervous about going back to school? It is quite common! Starting school, whether it is your first year or you’ve done it before, can be scary. There are a lot of changes and new things to learn. Here are some tips to help alleviate worry and anxiety about going back to school.
Talk and listen
Have an open conversation about what is worrying them about going back to school. Ask what makes this a nerve wracking time so you can help them problem solve or prepare for specific situations. If they are not able to express what is scary – that’s ok! Assure them that being nervous is a normal emotion and reaction.
Prepare
Walking through anxiety provoking situations can be extremely helpful. If they are nervous about something specific, role play what the situation might look like and how they can address it or ask for help. If you are able to, drive to the school and visit so they can become familiar with where they will be each day.
Involve them in decisions
Have them help pick out their going back to school supplies, backpack, lunchbox or whatever else they may need for school. Getting something in their favorite color or including their favorite superhero or TV character can help make this a fun and exciting time!
Start the routine
Help get them into the swing of going back to school by starting the routine early. Change is hard, so the more time kids have to adjust, the better! This could involve setting a bed time, wake up time, eating and getting dressed in the morning, or whatever your family decides to do to!
Friends
Help connect them to their school friends! Reach out to other families who will be attending the same school or will be in the same class so they can meet. It is much easier to do something new when you have a friendly, familiar face by your side.
Calming exercises
Try some calming exercises to help alleviate worry and anxiety. Calming exercises are great to practice when you are feeling calm so that when you are anxious you are already an expert in a technique to help! Some calming exercises include belly breathing, 54321 grounding, or doing a little stretch!
Read books
Check out our Back-to-School picture book section for stories about going to school that children can relate to. Need other book recommendations? Just ask a librarian; we are happy to help!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica
Image by diana.grytsku on Freepik
Hi, cardholders! Summer is the perfect season to visit the amazing DuPage Children's Museum, where kids can flex their brain muscles, hone their fine motor skills, and -- of course -- have fun!
Located in Naperville, Illinois, the DuPage Children's Museum uses science and art to stimulate children's creativity and problem-solving skills. Here are just a few of the great exhibits families can visit:
- Play, build, and create with real wood and real tools at The Moser Construction House!
- Generate energy with a big waterwheel, create a current with circuits and conductors, and navigate a wind tunnel at AWEsome Energy!
- Work together to build a pyramid at Pyramid Bench!
There are so many cool things kids can do at the DuPage Children's Museum, all of which are designed to develop specific skills in children of all ages.
Barrington Area Library cardholders will receive one FREE museum admission with purchase of one regular admission. Maximum of three free admissions.
Advanced reservations are not required for Explore More Illinois users. Please go to the museum front desk and show your pass to receive your discount. Pass cannot be combined with any other offer. Not valid for parties, group visits, field trips, or Bubble Bash.
For more information, visit this page, accessible through the Barrington Area Library homepage. Please be sure to check offer availability prior to reservation. You can also contact us at exploremore@balibrary.org.
Youth Services Librarian Chris
Welcome to our new series, all about getting to know our very special Youth Services staff members at the Barrington Area Library! Each month, we'll publish an interview with one of our lovely staff members. Up next we have ME, Youth Services Specialist Stefanie!
What is your favorite part of working at the Barrington Area Library?
I started working here in 2016, and it’s been amazing to watch children (who were babies or very young when I started) growing up over the years!
What are some of your favorite books and/or genres?
Anything that Kate DiCamillo writes is an instant favorite. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner are a handful of my favorite grown-up books. I thoroughly enjoy reading picture books and some of my favorite authors/illustrators are Esme Shapiro, Christian Robinson, Phoebe Wahl, and Corinna Luyken.
Do you have a hobby or knowledge of a certain topic that you like to incorporate into your work at the library?
I love incorporating my hobbies and interests into my work at the library! As some of you know, I recently started teaching myself the ukulele, and have been doing some ukulele-centric story times. I’m a big fan of hiking and spending time outside, so it’s really fun to bring my love of nature to my work as well. Taking care of my mental health is very important to me, which led me to start Little Kids, Big Feelings, and Meditation Story Time.
What do you like to do when you’re not working at the library?
I am obsessed with my animals! When I’m not at the library, you’ll find me walking or hiking with my dog, a chihuahua/rat terrier mix, Marnie, or cuddling with Marnie and my cat, Pico. I have another cat named Koko–she only receives love on her own terms though, so she doesn’t cuddle very much! I also love spending time with my partner, our family and friends, hiking, baking, meditating, knitting, going to concerts, and playing board games.
If you could be a character in any book in our collection, who would you be?
Obviously, I would be Hazel from Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl!
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
I recently found out that I’m part Icelandic, which I think is really cool because it’s been a dream of mine to visit there!
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie
Mindfulness is an activity you can practice year-round, but here are some summer inspired activities to encourage mindful moments for your little ones.
- Gardening
Whether it is at home or participating in a gardening program at the BALibrary, gardening is a great way to connect to nature! What colors do you see? How does the dirt feel between your fingers? Notice how the flowers smell. - Cloud watching
Gaze up at the clouds and see what shapes you can see! Better yet, lay in the grass and notice how it feels beneath your body. - Blowing bubbles
Get out your bubbles and wand! Pay attention your breath as you inhale and exhale to make the bubbles. - Draw with sidewalk chalk
Get creative and draw something you love! What colors do you use? What shapes are within your drawings? What texture does the chalk have? - Nature walk
Put on those walking shoes and explore nature! What do you see? What colors do you notice? What does the ground feel like beneath your feet? Do you feel the sun on your face or the wind in your hair? What do you hear or smell? Name anything else you notice!
Interested in programs related to mindfulness? Check out Morning Garden Story Time, Loose Parts Nature Play, Nature Art, Nature I Spy, Meditation Story Time, and Little Kids, Big Feelings.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica