Librarian offer top picks for summer reading
With so many choices, it can be challenging to find fun summer reads for adults and kids alike.
Local librarians share their top lists for good summer books, from award-winning children’s books to sequels and series installations.
Melanie Duncan, the branch librarian at Shurling Library, suggests Robert Galbraith’s book “The Silkworm.” J.K. Rowling’s pseudonymous work as Galbraith has established her as an author to watch, Duncan said, and the library expects to see as high of a demand as with the first title.
“Her second in the Cormoran Strike series is eagerly anticipated by Rowling and Galbraith fans,” she said.
Duncan’s Top 10 summer reads with release dates
“Mr. Mercedes,” by Stephen King, June
“The Silkworm,” by Robert Galbraith, June
“Top Secret Twenty-One,” by Janet Evanovich, June
“Invisible,” by James Patterson and David Ellis, June
“The City,” by Dean Koontz, July
“A Perfect Life,” by Danielle Steel, July
“The Girls of August,” by Anne Rivers Siddons, July
“Cut and Thrust,” by Stuart Woods, July
“Power Play,” by Catherine Coulter, July
“The Choir Director 2: Runaway Bride,” by Carl Weber, August
Yolanda Young, the children’s specialist librarian for Perry Public Library selected “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” to be included in her summer reading list for kids because it was nominated for the 2014 Newberry Award.
“It is great for readers of junior fiction and comic books,” she said. The book comes equipped with comic book-style and full-page illustrations. Plus, Kate DiCamillo is a popular author who also wrote “Because of Winn-Dixie” and “The Tale of Despereaux,” Young said.
Young’s Top 10 summer reads for children
“Bridge to Terabithia,” by Katherine Paterson
“The Secret Garden,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“Inside Out & Back Again,” by Thanhha Lai
“The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” by Brian Selznick
“The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” by C.S. Lewis
“The Lightning Thief,” by Rick Riordan
“A Series of Unfortunate Events,” by Lemony Snicket
“Beezus and Ramona,” by Beverly Cleary
Any of Mo Willems’ books
“Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” by Kate DiCamillo
Bibb County
www.co.bibb.ga.us/library
Washington Memorial Library
1180 Washington Ave., Macon
478-744-0800
Hours:
Adult Reference and Junior Room: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Genealogical and Historical Room and Middle Georgia Archives: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Macon Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Riverside Branch
Rivergate Shopping Center, 110 Holiday Drive N., Macon
478-757-8900
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Charles A. Lanford Branch
6504 Houston Road, Macon
478-621-6970
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Shurling Branch
Shurlington Plaza, 1769 Shurling Drive, Macon
478-744-0875
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
West Bibb Branch
Northwest Commons, 5580 Thomaston Road, Macon
478-744-0818
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
Houston County
www.houpl.org
Centerville Library
206 Gunn Road, Centerville
478-953-4500
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Nola Brantley Memorial Library
721 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins
478-923-0128
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Perry Public Library
1201 Washington St., Perry
478-987-3050
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Friday; noon-8 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Peach County
www.peach.public.lib.ga.us
Thomas Public Library
315 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Fort Valley
478-825-1640
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-87p.m. Monday; 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Byron Public Library
105 Church St., Byron
478-956-2200
Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Tuesday; 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Baldwin County
www.tllsga.org
Mary Vinson Memorial Library
151 S. Jefferson St., Milledgeville
478-452-0677
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Lake Sinclair Library
130 Log Cabin Road, Suite D, Milledgeville
478-452-6522
Hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
Crawford County
Crawford County Public Library
340 McCrary St., Roberta
478-836-4478
Hours: 1-7 p.m. Monday; and 10 a.m.-noon and 1-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
Jones County
Jones County Public Library
146 Railroad Ave., Gray
478-986-6626
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday
Monroe County
Monroe County Library
62 W. Main St., Forsyth
478-994-7025
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Twiggs County
Twiggs County Public Library
101 Ash St., Jeffersonville
478-945-3814
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
This story was originally published May 4, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Librarian offer top picks for summer reading ."