Attention: All library buildings will be closed Sunday, April 20, for the Easter holiday. Always open online @ oppl.org
Reading Lists Staging
By Grade (updated May 2013)
Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
By Subject
Black History Month, Fiction
Black History Month, Nonfiction
Chapter Book Read-Alouds (for younger kids)
Chapter Book Read-Alouds (for older kids)
Historical Fiction
Like Harry Potter
Like The Lightning Thief (Mythology)
Native American Stories
Non-Traditional Gender Roles
Raise a Reader: Great Books for 2s & 3s
Scary Stories
Science Fiction
Growing Up Is Hard To Do: Books About Difficult Feelings
Your Librarians' Favorite Picture Books
Reading Olympics
Reading Olympics is a battle of the books sponsored by School Districts 90 and 97, Oak Park Public Library, and River Forest Public Library, as well as several private schools. All 5th grade students are invited to participate in Reading Olympics. Students read the books on a list and compete with each other answering questions about the books. For more information, please contact your school media specialist.
Fall 2013
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DeCamillo
- The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John H. Ritter
- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
- Haunting at Home Plate by David Patneaude
- Pie by Sarah Weeks
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Spring 2014
- Cheesie Mack is not a Genius or Anything by Stephen Cotler
- Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw
- Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
- Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
- Maniac Magee: A Novel by Jerry Spinelli
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt
Award Winners
- Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award: Illinois' Children's Choice Award (4th through 8th grade)
- The Monarch Award: Illinois' Children's Choice Award (K through 3rd grade)
- Bluestem Award: Illinois' Readers' Choice Award (3rd through 5th grade)
- The Caldecott Medal: given annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children
- The Newbery Medal: given annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
- Other National Children's Books Awards