Make Room for Reading

As kids get back into the swing of school this fall, it’s a great time to organize new family routines and activities. Why not add a library book club to your child’s calendar? Book clubs are a wonderful way for children to connect with others while building important communication and critical-thinking skills. Talking about a shared book encourages children to express their ideas, listen to different perspectives, and think more deeply about what they read. Book clubs also give children the opportunity to meet new friends from nearby schools, homeschools, and private schools in a comfortable and welcoming setting.

Our Grades 2–3 Book Club is a gentle introduction to the world of book clubs. Each monthly meeting includes activities related to the book as well as plenty of opportunities for socializing and making new friends. Children in grades 2 - 3 are beginning an exciting new stage in their reading journey as they transition from learning to read to reading to learn. They are expanding their vocabularies, developing reading comprehension, and learning to follow plots and character development. Discussing books with others helps strengthen these foundational reading skills while making reading a fun, social experience. The Grades 2 - 3 Book Club meets at the library on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m., beginning September 17.

For more than two years, our Tween Book Club for grades 4 - 6 has offered tweens a fun opportunity to make new friends and share their experiences reading the same book. Each meeting includes lively book discussions along with activities such as card games and crafts. During the summer, the group has even enjoyed popcorn and pizza together! Every tween also takes home a craft connected to the book they read. These projects are designed to create lasting memories and help children remember the positive experience of reading long after the discussion has ended. Whether they make a friendship bracelet, mix up a pie crust, or plant lettuce seeds in the garden, each activity gives tweens another way to connect with the story. The Tween Book Club meets at the library on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m., beginning September 16.

Our fun and engaging book clubs meet once a month and are designed for children in grades 2 - 6. Separate registration is required for each monthly session.

This fall, consider adding a youth book club to your family’s schedule. It’s a great way for children to discover new books, build friendships, and develop a lifelong love of reading—all while having fun at the library!

This post was written by Karrie Yukon, Youth Librarian at RHPL.