Category Archives: Children

SPF Summer Reading 2026

Thursday, June 11, 2026Children Teens

Sixth Grade | Seventh Grade | Eighth Grade

SIXTH GRADE

Students must read at least one of the following titles. As they read, students must complete the summer notes document found HERE.

*The Parker Inheritance* by by Varian Johnson

*The Thing I’m most Afraid of* by Kristen Levine

SEVENTH GRADE

Students must read at least one fiction book from the following titles As they read they must complete THIS graphic organizer. Additionally, all incoming 7th graders must read a nonfiction book of their choice. Please see the list after the fiction titles. Note: Titles that continue content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per the School District.

*The War that Saved My Life* by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

*Black Brother, Black Brother** by Jewell Parker Rhodes

*King and the Dragonflies** by Kacen Callender

Incoming seventh graders are required to read a non-fiction book as well as one of the above fiction books. Below are some suggested titles from the SPF School District.

*I am Malala (Young Readers’ Edition)* by Malala Yousafzai

*All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team* by Christina Soontornvat.

*Hidden Figures (Young Readers’* *Edition*)
by Margot Lee Shetterly

*The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny,*
*and the Fight for Civile Rights* by Steve Sheinkin

EIGHTH GRADE

Students should read one fiction book and one nonfiction book from the choices below. As they read, students should take notes in the style of their choice in order to prepare for an assessment in the fall. Note: Titles that continue content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per the School District.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

*Dry* by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

*Attack of the Black Rectangles* by A.S. King

Incoming eighth graders are required to read a non-fiction book from the list below and be prepared to discuss the title.

*The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers’ Edition)* by William Kamkwamba

*The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights* by Steve Sheinkin

*Reaching for the Moon* by Katherine Johnson

*White Bird: A Wonder Story* by R.J. Palacio

NINTH GRADE

All students must read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and take notes in the style of their choice in order to prepare for an assessment in the fall. In addition, students must read an additional title from below. Note: Titles that continue content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per the School District.

Required for ALL NINTH GRADE STUDENTS: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Additionally all 9th graders must read one of the following:

*The House on Mango Street* by Sandra Cisneros

*The Perks of being a Wallflower** by Stephen Chbosky

TENTH GRADE

All students must read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and take notes in the style of their choice in order to prepare for an assessment in the fall. In addition, students must read an additional title from below. Note: Titles that continue content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per the School District.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Print
eBook

*Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe** by Benjamin Alire Saenz

ELEVENTH GRADE

All incoming 11th graders taking English III College Prep must read The Complete Maus by Art Siegelman and take notes in the style of their choice in order to be prepared for an assessment in the fall. In addition, students must choose one other title from the following. Click on the image for more information. Titles that contain content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per SPF School District.

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

The Underground Railroad* by Colson Whitehead

Eleventh Grade (AP)

All incoming 11th graders taking AP English Language must read On Writing by Stephen King and take notes in the style of their choice in order to be prepared for an assessment in the fall. In addition, students must choose one other title from the list below. Click on the image for more information. Titles that contain content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per SPF school district.

On Writing by Stephen King

eAudio
eBook

TWELFTH GRADE

All incoming 12th graders taking English IV College Prep must choose one of the following titles and take notes in the style of their choice in order to prepare for an assessment in the fall. Click on the image for more information. Titles that contain content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per SPF school district.

In addition, students must have a rough draft of their personal narrative (college essay) that follows the past, present, future structure learned in 11th grade.

*How to Break Up with Your Phone* by Catherine Price

*The Anxious Generation* by Jonathan Haidt

*Everything is Tuberculosis* by John Green

*Accountable* by Dashka Slater | Paperback

Twelfth grade (AP)

All incoming 12th graders taking AP English Literature must read Silas Marner by George Eliot. As they read, students must take 3-5 notes per chapter with parenthetical MLA citations based on the guidelines here. In addition, students must choose one other title from the following below. Click on the image for more information. Titles that contain content that may be considered mature for the grade level are indicated with an asterisk (*) – as per SPF School district.

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Libby (eBooks)

A Thousand Splendid Suns* by Khaled Hosseini

Yoto Cards and Players are here!

Tuesday, July 22, 2025Children

Introducing a New Addition to Our Collection: Lendable Yoto Player and Cards!
Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of the Scotch Plains Public Library

We’re excited to share a new addition to our Youth Services collection: Yoto Players and Yoto Cards! These screen-free, kid-friendly audio players are now available to borrow—opening up a world of stories, music, and learning in a whole new way.

What Is a Yoto Player?

The Yoto Player is an innovative audio device designed especially for children. It plays Yoto Cards, which are similar to audiobooks—but with a twist. There’s no screen, no ads, and no complicated setup. Kids simply insert a card, and the story begins!

It’s the perfect way to enjoy books, music, and educational content in a hands-on, distraction-free format.

What Are Yoto Cards?

Yoto Cards are small, durable cards that hold audio content such as popular children’s books, bedtime stories, songs, and more. Once a card is inserted into a Yoto Player—or activated via the Yoto App—the content begins to play.

Some of the titles we currently offer include favorites from series like The Boxcar Children, Dragon Masters, and more!

How Does It Work?

Borrowing and using a Yoto Card is easy:

Download the free Yoto App and create an account.
Insert the Yoto Card into a Yoto Player, or tap the card to your phone to activate it.
The audio content will automatically appear in your app’s library and begin playing.
Listen through the app or the Yoto Player.
Return the card to the library when you’re done—your app will retain the content until it’s activated again on another account.

Borrowing a Yoto Player

Don’t have a Yoto Player at home? No problem! You can now borrow one from our library, just like any other device or book. Pair it with a few Yoto Cards to create a fun, screen-free experience for car rides, bedtime routines, or quiet afternoons.

Our Yoto Player is linked to the Library’s account, so there’s no need to download the app when borrowing it from us!

Please note: Yoto Players and Yoto Cards are available to adult Scotch Plains Library cardholders only. Items must be checked out from and returned directly to the Youth Services Department. Yoto Cards and Players MUST be returned to the Scotch Plains Library’s Youth Service Desk. Failure to do so will result in a $5.00 fee which will be charged on your account.

A Huge Thank You

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the Friends of the Scotch Plains Public Library for funding this exciting new addition to our collection. Their continued support helps us bring valuable and engaging resources to the children and families in our community.

Want to Try It?

Stop by the Youth Services desk to browse our Yoto Cards and check out a Yoto Player. Our staff will be happy to walk you through how to use it.

Happy listening!

Shark Week

Saturday, August 17, 2024Children

Contact-Free pick up is here! How it works: Click on “request this item” and place the item on hold with your library card. You will be notified when your item is available for pickup. For Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents only at this time. Questions? Contact us at kids@scotlib.org.

Misunderstood Shark : starring Shark! by Ame Dyckman

This super silly story is about a shark who just wants to show everyone who he is.

Dude! by Aaron Reynolds

This hilarious book shows the complex and silly ways to tell a story only using one word!

Chomp : a shark romp by Michael Paul

Learn all about different species of sharks – great for children in grades 2 and under!

Slickety quick : poems about sharks by Skila Brown

Creative poems about sharks from rare sharks like camouflaged wobbegong and the elusive frilled shark – and more common ones.

Super shark encyclopedia and other creatures of the deep by Derek Harvey

Everything you need to know about sharks and other creatures! Great for any shark lover.

I survived the shark attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis

Based on True Events and the Jersey Shore!

The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

Read about how these bad guys are doing good deeds – humorous mixed media book for those that love fast paced books.

Looking for more Shark books? Click here to view additional titles (does not work in Firefox and on certain mobile devices).

Graphic Novels

Thursday, June 27, 2024Children

Does your child love graphic novels? Check out some of these titles we have at the library!

The witch boy by Molly Ostertag

When a boy goes missing during a night of shapeshifting, thirteen-year-old Astor risks going against family tradition by using his magic to help locate him.

When stars are scattered by Victoria Jamieson

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Twins by Varian Johnson

Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran — a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister! Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there’s nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?

Super Turbo saves the day! by Edgar J. Powers

Super Turbo learns he is not the only superhero pet at Sunnyview Elementary.

Spy School : the graphic novel by Stuart Gibbs

Ben Ripley is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science–but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior C.I.A. academy. Ben becomes an undercover agent and goes on his first assignment

Sunny side up by Jennifer L. Holm

Sunny Lewin has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. At first she thought Florida might be fun — it is the home of Disney World, after all. But the place where Gramps lives is no amusement park. It’s full of . . . old people. Really old people. But the question remains — why is Sunny down in Florida in the first place? The answer lies in a family secret that won’t be secret to Sunny much longer. . .

The sand warrior by Mark Siegel

A story that explores new worlds packed with amazing adventures; ancient mysteries; the unlikely bond of a clumsy dancer, a boy from the poorest slums, and a superstar athlete–and their quest to save one small, distant galaxy from the forces…

Realm of the blue mist by Amy Kim Kibuishi

While searching for the truth surrounding her father’s death, Tabby Simon is unexpectedly led to Rema, a distant world of magic and beauty, where she discovers she is destined for something far greater than she ever could have imagined.

Planetary-yum by Drew Brockington

Future CatStronaut Waffles and his younger sister Pancake are kittens who enjoy visiting the science museum with Dad-Cat.

Pea, Bee, & Jay. 1, Stuck together by Brian Smith

Like all peas, Pea loves to roll. So when a no-good strawberry dares him to roll all the way off the farm, he swears he can do it–eazy me-zee! But along the way, a powerful thunderstorm strikes and bounces Pea off course…and right into two unlikely newbuds: a bee named Bee who thinks she knows it all, and a bird named Jay who can’t figure out how to fly. On their own they may not look like much, but if this trio can stick together, they just might help Pea find his way back home!

Owl and Penguin by Vikram Madan

The okay witch by Emma Steinkellner

Narwhal : unicorn of the sea by Ben Clanton

Meet the Super Duper Seven by Tim Hamilton

Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani

The invisible whale by Beth Ferry

I’m ogre it by Jeffrey Ebbeler

Housecat trouble by Mason Dickerson

Hoggy went-a-courtin’ by Ethan Long

Donut feed the squirrels by Mika Song

Cucumber quest. 1, The doughnut kingdom by D.G. Gigi

The cardboard kingdom by Chad Sell

Benny and Penny in The big no-no! : a Toon Book by Geoffrey Hayes

Aru Shah and the end of time by Joe Caramagna

First in a Series

Thursday, June 27, 2024Children

Looking for a new series? Check out our recommended list

I Am A Super Girl! by Kelly Greenwalt

Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May

Azmina The Gold Glitter Dragon by Maddy Mara

The Adventures Of Captain Underpants : The First Epic Novel by Dav Pilkey

The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui Sutherland

The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Nettingham Middle School

Tuesday, June 18, 2024Children Teens

Summer Reading – Middle School – Nettingham

Nettingham Middle School

*Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy* (non-fiction)

These are recommended Titles from the SPF School District. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are indicated by the school are titles that contain content that may be considered mature for the grade level. View the School’s Summer Reading Hub Online.

Books For Kids – Women’s History Month

Thursday, March 28, 2024Children

Check out our list of titles celebrating National Women’s History Month. View our previous lists 2021 | 2022 | 2023

Non-Fiction & Biographies

Middle Grade Books (Fiction & Non-Fiction)

Let’s Celebrate – Black History Month

Tuesday, January 30, 2024Children

Check out our lists of recommended picture books, chapter books, non-fiction, and biographies to celebrate Black History Month and beyond.

Picture Books

*Keyana Loves Her Friend* by Natasha Tarpley

*Mama’s Sleeping Scarf* by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

*Sam with Ants in His Pants* by April Reynolds

*Etta Extraordinaire* by Charnaie Gordon and Roda Ahmed

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Looking for more picture books? Check out our list from our Online Catalog.

Chapter Books & Graphic Novels

*The Probability of Everything* by Sarah Everett

*Ellis Johnson Might be Famous* by Shawn Amos

*Like Lava In My Veins* by Derrick Barnes

Looking for more chapter books and graphic novels? Check out our list from our Online Catalog.

Non-Fiction & Biographies

*It’s Not Bragging If It’s True* by Zaila Avant-garde

Small Shoes, Great Strides by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

*There Was a Party for Langston* by Jason Reynolds

Looking for more biographies and non-fiction titles? Check out our list from our Online Catalog.

Let’s Celebrate – Lunar New Year!

Thursday, January 11, 2024Children

Check out some of our books for children that focus on Lunar New Year. You can view more titles by visiting our catalog.

*Chloe’s Lunar New Year* by Lily LaMotte

*Wish Soup: A Celebration of Seollal* by Junghwa Park

*The Lunar New Year Surprise* by Jade Wang

SPF Suggested Summer Reading

Saturday, July 15, 2023Children Teens

For the 2023-2024 school year incoming students entering 6th-12th grade at the SPF School District are required to read 1 fiction and 1 non-fiction. Students are welcome to view the school’s website for additional information.

Due to the high demand of these items, we have generated individual lists for students to easily find these titles and place them on hold from the public library’s catalog. As a reminder students may choose any book they would like to read, even if it is not on their list and the librarians at the Scotch Plains Public Library are more than happy to help your child find the perfect book!

Middle School Non-Fiction