Did you know that you can continue to stay connected to the Library while staying home? How would you like to participate in a virtual storytime with your family or receive resume help all from the comfort of your couch? Join Charlotte Mecklenburg Library every week for a wide range of virtual programming for children, teens and adults. See a complete listing of this upcoming programming for the week of 7/13/2020 below. Click the corresponding links for more information and register for programs where applicable.

Learn more about online programming by clicking here

Monday 7/13

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children’s programming)  register

Mindful Mondays – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian – Technology – 2 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Traditional Storytelling – 3 p.m. (Children’s programming)  learn more

Tuesday 7/14             

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)  register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

Story Explorers Enrichment – 2 p.m.   (Children's programming)  learn more

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Traditional Storytelling – 3 p.m. (Children’s programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Active Reading Comprehension Strategies for Upper Elementary Learners  – 6 p.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Engage 2020: Summer Series with Historian Sonya Ramsey – 7 p.m.  (Adult programming)  learn more

Wednesday 7/15

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Bridging the Social Distance: A Community Conversation – 10 a.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Online Listen and Move Storytime – 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)  register

Poetry in Pajamas – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Engage 2020: 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)   register

Planning for the Future with an Advance Directive – 6 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Thursday 7/16

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m. (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)  register

Cuentos Virtuales en Español - 10:30 a.m. (Children's programming)   learn more

Book a Librarian - Business Research – 11 a.m. (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment - 11 a.m. (Children's programming)  register

Career Development Intensive Coaching – 12 p.m. (Adult programming)  

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register 

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book Talk: Children's – 3 p.m. (Children's programming)  learn more

Teens LIVE on Instagram: Photo Transfer Art – 6 p.m. (Teen programming)  learn more

Social Justice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. (Adult programming)  register

Friday 7/17

Virtual Reading Buddies – 9 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Baby Storytime – 10:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)   learn more

Ted Talk Discussion Group: Climate Change – 11 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 11 a.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 1 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 2 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Book a Librarian - Technology – 2 p.m.   register

One-on-One Tutoring and Enrichment – 2:30 p.m. (Children's programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 3 p.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Saturday 7/18

Family Storytime – 9:30 a.m.  (Children's programming)  Learn more

Learning Circle: The Science of Well-Being – 9:30 a.m.  (Adult programming)  register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 10 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Virtual Reading Buddies – 11 a.m.  (Children's programming)   register

Did you know that babies, toddlers and preschoolers can join in on Summer Break too? Reading time includes time spent being read to and time spent reading to someone else. This means that parents can log reading time for everyone whether they read to or with their child!  

This summer discover the learning moments all around us. The Library is here to help you get your child ready to read with simple activities every day.  

When you register your child ages 0-3 years for Summer Break, you will find age-appropriate activities to complete to earn virtual badges, in addition to reading. We also have a colorful pamphlet with ideas for learning activities and lots of great literacy tips. Some of our activity ideas include:  

Read: 

• Participate in virtual storytime with your child. 

• Talk about the beginning, middle and end of the story while reading a book. 

Explore: 

• Visit a Storywalk at a local park  

• Move like the animals in the book you are reading. 

Create: 

• Make up a silly song and sing it 

• Create art using your handprint or footprint 

Play: 

• Turn everyday moments into brain building activities by explaining what you're doing and encouraging your toddler. 

• Play I Spy using the world around you. 

Give: 

• Talk about flowers with your child and give one to someone special. 

• Video chat a friend or family member online to cheer them up. 

Write: 

• Use your fingers to practice writing your name in shaving cream. 

• Name all the words you can think of that begin with the first letter of your name. 

Learn About the Benefits of Active Reading 

Active Reading is a great way to engage with your child while you read together. The ABCs of Active Reading are:  

• A: Ask Questions. Open ended questions get kids talking. “What do you think will happen next in the story?” 

• B: Build Vocabulary. Demonstrating new words builds vocabulary. Don’t just read the word “whisper” – actually whisper.  

• C: Connect to Child’s World. Relating the story to what kids know helps them learn more about the world.  

The Summer Break program is wonderful for all ages! We have activities, book suggestions and programs for babies, children, teens and adults. 

Comments? Questions? 

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to call your local library for assistance or email [email protected]. 

The 2020 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with additional support from Wendy’s and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. 

Looking for some great movies your kids can watch now that school is out for the summer? Look no further.

Hoopla  has a great selection of movies for kids. Here are the top five that have been streaming on Hoopla. All you need to join in the fun is your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card or One Access ID!

Learn more about hoopla and checkout limits here.  Need a Library card?  Sign up here.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog (2010) - The popular children’s book is turned into a short movie. When Pigeon finds a delicious hot dog, he can't wait to devour it. But then along comes a sly duckling who wants a bite. Who will be the more clever bird? Run time: 7 minutes

Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel (2002) - News alert! It has just been discovered that there are NO MORE TACOS left anywhere in the world. This is a huge problem because, as you know, dragons love tacos. If only there was a way for the dragons to travel back in time to before tacos went extinct. Then they could grab lots of tacos and bring them back! It's the perfect plan, as long as there's no spicy salsa. You remember what happened last time... The award-winning creators of Robo-Sauce and Secret Pizza Party return with a gut-bustingly hilarious companion to the bestselling phenomenon Dragons Love Tacos. Run time: 10 minutes

My Little Pony Equestria Girls (2013) - When her crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle pursues the thief, Sunset Shimmer, into an alternate world where she finds herself turned into…a teenage girl! To regain her crown and return to Equestria, Twilight must learn how to fit into this strange new world and defeat Sunset Shimmer in a competition to become crowned Princess of the Fall Formal at Canterlot High. Luckily, she'll have the assistance of Spike and five teenage girls who remind her of a certain group of ponies back home. Run time: 1 hour and 12 minutes

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (2011) - It's getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Children will love this interactive bedtime romp, which puts readers back in the driver's seat, deflecting Pigeon's sly trickery as he tries to escape his inevitable bedtime. Will you let him stay up late? Run time: 7 minutes

Elmo’s Potty Time  (2010) -  Potty training can be fun! Create a positive potty time experience for your child with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends with Elmo's Potty Time! This amusing and song-filled story teaches children that everyone has to learn how to use the potty. Your child will learn that accidents are okay and that it takes time and practice before he can use the potty on his own. So dance, sing, and laugh as your child learns confidence-building skills and helpful healthy habits that will last a lifetime! Run time 44minutes.

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This blog was written by Serena Guest of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

For those who know they can’t be a true “legal eagle” but want assistance, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has a new database to help. LegalForms (Gale) is a powerful collection of legal forms that have been used in law practices and permit users to edit the forms as needed. You are a computer search away from help with common legal actions and detailed documents.

Official North Carolina forms are available on LegalForms as well as an Attorney Directory. What types of legal forms are offered? The database’s forms include real estate contracts, bankruptcy, premarital agreements, divorce, power of attorney, wills, landlord tenant and more. Ever user-friendly, LegalForms searches can be as basic as keyword searches, subject, legal form, or you can browse the catalog. Accurate, authentic legal forms can be created with reasonable ease using LegalForms. Many forms are available in Adobe and Microsoft Word formats so that you only need to fill in the entries. Documents may be downloaded, saved, or printed. 

Sample letters are offered and range from topics like requesting the credit report of a minor to asking to have your name removed from a mail marketing list. Legal definitions and a legal encyclopedia, “Law Digest”, are provided for help in understanding legal terms. Also included in LegalForms are links to federal and state tax forms. Lastly, placed to the left is a “Legal Q & A“ button which features questions and answers for particular subjects. Search help and FAQs can be found at the top right of the page.

Library customers have access to vital law resources and adjustable legal forms by accessing LegalForms on the cmlibrary.org website or a mobile device. 

Users should consult an attorney in their state for serious legal matters.

Did you know that teens and adults can join in on Summer Break too? Summer is such a great time to read all the books you’ve wanted to read - no assigned books here! 

This summer explore the world around you through books, resources and online programs. New opportunities for learning are everywhere. The Library is here to help you find inspiration to try something new. 

When you register for Summer Break, you will find activities to complete to earn virtual badges.  In addition to Reading, some of our activity ideas include: 

Create:  

• Cook something using a new recipe (teens and adults) 

• Create your own graphic novel (teens) 

• Organize a space in your house or room (adults) 

Write: 

• Create a book list using BiblioCommons, the Library’s online catalog (teens and adults) 

• Write your family tree with the Library version of Ancestry.com (teens) 

• Send a card to a friend or family member (adults) 

Play: 

• Play a board game (teens and adults) 

• Try to get out of one of the digital escape rooms (teens) 

• Play a sport (adults) 

Explore: 

• Find a book recommendation from a library booklist (teens and adults) 

• Plan your future by using the Library’s Road Map to Success (teens) 

• Watch a documentary with your library card from PBS Video (adults) 

Give: 

• Donate to a nonprofit (teens and adults) 

• Participate in a virtual volunteering activity for the library (teens) 

• Donate a needed item to a neighbor (adults) 

WOW 5 for 5: 

• Attend a virtual writing workshop with your local library (teens and adults) 

• Find a great new book to read with help from a librarian (teens and adults) 

Programs for Teens  

Though our Summer Break 2020 program can be completed entirely online, our libraries are hosting some exciting virtual programs this summer for teens. 

Teens 

Read:  

Choose a book from one of our suggested teen reading lists for Summer Break:  learn more

Explore: 

Learn about different career paths by listening to the Library's Career Exploration Spotlight podcasts:  learn more

Visit the Library's Digital Branch for teen programs:  learn more

Create: 

Create your college planning timeline or explore careers using CFNC:  learn more

Learn a craft or hobby through Universal Class:  learn more

Play:  

Try to get out of one of our digital escape rooms:  learn more

Give: 

Participate in a virtual volunteering activity for the Library:   learn more

Find a great new book to read with help from a librarian and read to someone:   learn more

Write: 

Write your family tree with the Library version of Ancestry.com:   learn more

Write your brag sheet to help you with a job or college admissions interview:   learn more

Adults

Read:  Attend an Adult Book Club 

Explore: Bridging the Social Distance, Mindful Monday, Community Conversation: Setting Your Goals (SUG), Jobseeker Support Group

Play: Participate in an exciting game of Dewey and Dragons – Millennial+ Edition (BFR)

Write: Learn how to improve your writing  with an Adult writing workshop like Sex, Drugs, & Rock & Roll: Writing Gripping Scenes or Adult Fanfiction Writing Group

Teen Activities 

Read:  

Teen Book Clubs – Join us online for teen book discussions, recommended reads, and a place to share your love of reading!

learn more

Explore: 

My Next Step for Teens - Do you need help figuring out your next step to successfully plan for your future? We're here to help connect you with the resources you need to succeed. Appointments are available via Zoom.  We also offer a form to get personalized feedback related to college and career readiness.

Learn more

Create: 

Teens LIVE on Instagram - Library staff go live on Instagram twice a week with maker projects, career conversations, and more! Check ImaginOn’s IGTV for past episodes, and our online calendar for new ones!

STEAM 101 - Join us online to learn and develop new skills with our STEAM 101 programs.  Explore art, kitchen chemistry, or an egg drop challenge through our virtual programs.

learn more

Play:  

Dewey & Dragons – Participate online in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing board game that encourages cooperation, problem solving, letter and word recognition, and critical thinking skills.

Learn more

Teen Trivia - Calling all trivia fans! Test your knowledge on a variety of topics such as popular and fandom culture and win bragging rights!

Learn more

Give:

Teen Advisory Council – Interested in sharing your ideas, working with peers, and earning community service hours online? Teens will work collaboratively on projects and services that will improve Teen Services within the library in this virtual program. 

learn more

Access the July Teen Online Activities Calendar

Visit our calendar for even more upcoming virtual programs that you can access from home!  Choose “Select tag(s)” on the right to narrow down by age. 

The Summer Break program is wonderful for all ages! We have activities and book suggestions for babies/children, teens and adults.  

Comments? Questions?  

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to call your local library for assistance or email  [email protected].  

The 2020 Summer Break program is brought to you by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with additional support from Wendy’s and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation. 

Another summer has flown by. School supply shopping has begun, vacations are winding down and another Summer Break program is about to end.  

Remember that Saturday, August 10 is the last day that you can enter reading time or activities in your log. Participants will have until Saturday, August 17 to pick up their milestone incentives – while supplies last. As a reminder, the incentives are as follows:  

• Wendy’s Jr. Frosty Coupons (earned at Sign-up)  

• Fine Waiver cards (earned at Sign-up, 10 hours, 15 hours, and 20 hours of reading)  

• Summer Break Completion incentive (Babies/children: a book; Teens: choice of a book or a Library drawstring bag; Adults: a Library magnet or notebook.)

Some participants may noticed they have earned a “Giving Makes the World Go Round" badge. Participants earn this badge when they reach 25 hours of reading. Every summer, the library gives back to the community by donating books to a local organization in need. This year’s recipient will be Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is happy to donate to CMS and we are thankful the school system will accept the contributions.   

Thank you for participating in Summer Break! We hope you’ve had fun reading and learning all summer long. We’ll see you again next summer!!   

Did you know that babies, toddlers and preschoolers can join in on Summer Break too? Reading time includes time spent being read to and time spent reading to someone else. This means that parents can log reading time for everyone whether they read to or with their child! 

This summer discover the learning moments all around us. The library is here to help you get your child ready to read with simple activities every day.  

When you register your child ages 0-3 years for Summer Break, we'll give you a colorful pamphlet with ideas for learning activities and lots of great literacy tips. Some of our ideas include:  

• Draw a picture and make up a story about it. 

• Read a book together. Create voices for the characters and use your body to tell the story.  

• Take your child to storytime. 

• Talk about the beginning, middle and end of the story while reading a book.  

Learn About the Benefits of Active Reading 

Active Reading is a great way to engage with your child while you read together. The ABCs of Active Reading are:  

• A: Ask Questions. Open ended questions get kids talking. “What do you think will happen next in the story?” 
• B: Build Vocabulary. Demonstrating new words builds vocabulary. Don’t just read the word “whisper” – actually whisper.  
• C: Connect to Child’s World. Relating the story to what kids know helps them learn more about the world.  

The Summer Break program is wonderful for all ages! We have activities, book suggestions and programs for babies, children, teens and adults.  Celebrate Library Week at Carowinds! 

In addition to offering free Carowinds tickets to eligible Summer Break participants, Carowinds also offers Library customers the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets and use them during Carowinds Library Week. This year Carowinds Library Week runs July 22-28, and the discounted ticket price is $39 per person, which includes parking. Purchase discounted tickets to be used during Library Week and help us celebrate Summer Break at Carowinds! 

Click here to access the portal 

User name: CM  

Password: LIBRARY   

These are case sensitive.  

Additional discounts may also be available through this portal throughout the summer. 

REMINDER: all libraries are closed for July 4. 

Comments? Questions? 

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to stop by your local library for assistance, call 704-416-0101 or email [email protected]. 

The latest exhibit at Main Library is out of this world.  Truly.  

Earth as Art 4: A Fusion of Science and Art features colorized, infrared Landsat satellite images of Earth from creative vantage points. All the images were acquired by Landsat 8, the satellite launched by NASA in 2013, and the exhibition is on loan to the Library from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The 38-image collection will be displayed on the first and second floors at Main Library through August 31, 2019.

NASA and the USGS have been taking photos from space since the 1970s, and this ongoing record allows scientists to monitor changes over time. But they’re also stunning – by combining different wavelengths of light, some invisible to the human eye, ordinary views of clouds, mountains or rivers are transformed into museum-quality works of art.

And that’s how Earth as Art was born. In the late 1990s staff tasked with image calibration began a collection of their favorites. “Every once in a while, we’d see an image that was so amazing, so remarkable, that we started squirreling them away,” said Earth Resources Observation and Science engineer Jon Christopherson. “We wrote them to CDs back then, and it wasn’t long before we had a drawer full of spectacular images.”

The exhibit began touring worldwide in 2002 and the Library is thrilled to host it at the Main branch in Uptown for the summer. “This exhibit came about through an unexpected combination of the scientific search for geographic changes on earth, some people in an office who happened to recognize something extraordinary, the artistic application of enhancing colors and the desire to freely share knowledge about our world,” said Mimi Curlee, Librarian at Main Library. “It is truly amazing!”

Explore these masterpieces for yourself!

More information about Earth as Art 4 can be found at https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth-as-art-4-a-fusion-of-science-and-art/.

The images are online and in the public domain, so people can download and use as they like.

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/earth-art-4?qt-science_center_objects=7#qt-science_center_objects

The Library also has print and online resources available for checkout that contain similar images:

Earth as Art by Lawrence Friedl

Earth as Art eBook

Earth by Michael J. Carlowicz

Each summer, the Library is excited to welcome community teens into our branches to participate in our Summer VolunTeen program. The VolunTeen program is designed to expose young people to a wealth of vital experiences and help teens gain service hours during the summer. VolunTeens build workforce development and leadership skills while volunteering at the Library.

We’d like to take a moment to tell our 2019 VolunTeens, “Thank you and great job!”

Our VolunTeen initiative is now year-round, which means that teens ages 13 to 17 can now earn community service hours by becoming a VolunTeen up to three times a year! Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is looking for responsible teens who enjoy working with the public, helping others and giving back to their community.

Applications are only accepted three times a year. In January for the Spring term, in April for the Summer term and in August for the Fall term. During application months, please apply on the Volunteer page. Click on “Become a Volunteer” and search for Teen Volunteer 2019 opportunities. Applications will be accepted throughout the month as designated or until a branch has reached capacity.

Celebrate Library Week at Carowinds!

In addition to offering free Carowinds tickets to eligible Summer Break participants, Carowinds also offers Library customers the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets and use them during Carowinds Library Week. This year Carowinds Library Week runs July 22-28, and the discounted ticket price is $39 per person, which includes parking. Purchase discounted tickets to be used during Library Week and help us celebrate Summer Break at Carowinds!

Click here to access the portal

User name: CM

Password: LIBRARY 

These are case sensitive.

Additional discounts may also be available through this portal throughout the summer.\

Comments? Questions?

Are you having problems with the Summer Break website or your account? Do you have questions about the program? Feel free to stop by your local library for assistance, call 704-416-0101 or email [email protected].

Library Branch Channel Leader and Interim Director of Libraries, Dana Eure, made a guest appearance on WCNC's Charlotte Today on Thursday, July 11, 2019 and shared six titles for travel and adventure. 

click here to search titles

Adult fiction

The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

In Lisbon in 1904, a young man named Tomás discovers an old journal. It hints at the existence of an extraordinary artifact that--if he can find it--would redefine history. Traveling in one of Europe's earliest automobiles, he sets out in search of this strange treasure. Thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist devoted to the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie finds himself at the center of a mystery of his own and drawn into the consequences of Tomás's quest. Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in his ancestral village in northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he arrives with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. And there, the century-old quest comes to an unexpected conclusion.

Adult nonfiction

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

A grand mystery reaching back centuries. A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon.

Youth fiction

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams and histories.

Picture Books

Journey by Aaron Becker

Using a red marker, a young girl draws a door on her bedroom wall and through it enters another world where she experiences many adventures, including being captured by an evil emperor.

Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer

On a family vacation in Venice, Olivia indulges in gelato, rides in a gondola and finds the perfect souvenir.

Teen fiction

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

When 17-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort-of scavenger hunt that transforms her life.