Check out (pun totally intended) our summer reading program at Chandler Public Library. Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am we will continue our StoryTime sessions for preschoolers, where we will follow the same weekly themes of our Wednesday Summer Reading sessions for elementary schoolers, which will be weekly at 3:30 pm.
Additionally, we will have three special events: June 14, 1 pm - Thrown 2Gether, a program presented by FinerArts; Family Game night on June 26, at 6 pm; and our Closing Program on July 31, at 6 pm.
Those participating in the program can receive achievement rewards, such as brag tags, stickers, and a chance for one of our Big Prizes; create a special poster along with other library visitors; pick up a Grab and Go Kit; and other fun activities throughout the program.
Plus we have a ton (OK, maybe more like 20 pounds, but a lot!) of new books.
For those who enjoy reading our tried and true authors: The Way of the Bear, Anne Hillerman’s continuation of her father, Tony Hillerman’s, Leaphorn & Chee series; The Wind Knows My Name, by Isabel Allende, a historical fiction novel about immigration and the sacrifices parents make; Quicksand, 3rd in a series by Janet Dailey (we’ll be receiving the first two in the series very soon!); Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Libyan Diversion, 5th in the Marcus Ryker series; Liar!, 3rd in the Lost & Found series by Fern Michaels; Collateral Damage, by JA Jance; Homecoming, Kate Morton’s newest novel; Simply Lies, David Baldacci; Dark Angel, John Sandford; The Wedding Planner, Danielle Steel; Where are the Children Now, Mary Higgins Clark (Alafair Burke); and 23rd Midnight, along with 3 Days to Live, both by James Patterson.
Best-selling authors new to our shelves along with a few debut novels include: Tom Hanks’ debut novel, The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece, The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese; Romantic Comedy, by Curtis Sittenfeld; Ivy Pochoda’s Sing Her Down, a psychological thriller; Things I Wish I Told My Mother, bv Susan Patterson; Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, first in a new series by Rupert Holmes; for Bridgerton fans, Queen Charlotte, by Julia Quinn; Emma Cline’s The Guest, about a con artist in the rarified world of Long Island; The Ferryman, Justin Cronin’s dystopian thriller about a group of survivors on a hidden island; Golden Spoon, Jessa Maxwell’s debut novel can be described as Knives Out meets Agatha Christie, or British Bake Off meets Clue; and speaking of Clue, we have three novels based on the game - In the Hall with the Knife,In the Study with the Wrench, and In the Ballroom with the Candlestick, all by Diana Peterfreund; Ann Napolitano’s Hello, Beautiful, a best-selling novel of family and loyalty; Happy Place, Emily Henry’s romantic comedy, high on the Summer Beach Reads lists; The Only Survivors, by Miranda Megan, an eerie thriller set during a reunion of school classmates; and Pineapple Street, Jenny Jackson’s debut ‘zeitgeisty’ novel about the über rich, with witty and sharp observations of a generationally wealthy Brooklyn family.
New adult non-fiction books on our shelves, include: The Wager; A Tale of Shipwrect, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon; The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West, by Chris Wimmer; You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir, by Maggie Smith; The Creative Act, by Rick Ruben, exploring the ways we all can connect with our creativity; and Wake Up with a Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years, by Sister Jean (Dolores Schmidt), a memoir, philosophy text, and spiritual guide.
What about the younger generation, you ask? Well, for our Young Adult readers, we have the three “Clue” mysteries listed above as well as Jenny Han’s novel, The Summer I Turned Pretty; Fallen Academy: Year One, by Leia Stone; Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley; and Jennifer de Leon’s Borderless.
Middle grade readers might want to look into: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, the Judy Blume classic, which is currently in theaters; Ways to Grow Love, book 2 in Renée Wilson’s Ryan Hart series; The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate’s Newbury award winning novel, and The One and Only Ruby; Ricky the Rock Who Couldn’t Roll, by Mr. Jay; and The Adventures of Huey Helicopter, a book on aviation and community helpers by Charlie Wilson, Jr.
Our youngest readers and pre-readers might enjoy: Little Sock Makes a Friend, by Kia Heise; Totally Turtles! by Matthew J. Gilbert; The Box Turtle, by Vanessa Roeder; or our new set to help new readers through phonics, Phonics Power!: TMNT; The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, by A. Wolf; and Get Up, Stand Up, by Cedella Marley, based on the song by Bob Marley (her father).