Spring Break
It’s about time for spring break and readers of all ages are making plans. Some may head to warm climates and sandy beaches to surf the waves and hunt for sharks’ teeth or perfectly shaped seashells. Others may hike the trails of national parks, or climb to the peaks of some of the nation’s mountain ranges. Some may choose to cruise the islands of the Caribbean, or travel to Europe, Asia or South America. Most will simple stay at home and enjoy very late nights and lazy mornings. And if libraries plan exciting programs, then many will elect to spend spring break reading a good book. Here are some ideas to engage readers:
- Ask readers to become a character in a book, and give a 3-minute presentation about why spring break should be spent with them in their city or state. Consider these characters:
Naomi in Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco (picture book)
Tulip Jones in Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch by Anne Issacs & illus. by Kevin Hawkes (picture book)
Bone in Precious Bones by Mika Ashley-Hollinger (young readers)
The Calvin Coconut Series by Graham Salisbury (young readers)
Oz & Lily in The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop by Kate Saunders (young readers)
The Miami Jackson Series by Patricia & Frederick McKissack
Woohoo Cray in Chomp by Carl Hiaasen (middle grade)
Turtle in Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm (middle grade)
Zeeta in The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau (young adult)
Virginia in The Queen of Water by Laura Resau & Maria Virginia Farinango (young adult)
Sami Ames in Hot Scots, Castles & Kilts by Tammy Swoish (young adult)
Torin Sinclair in The White Gates by Bonnie Ranthun (young adult)
- Be a travel agent and plan a spring break trip for a book character. Consider what is revealed about the character in the novel. Readers should justify where they are sending the character, and prepare an itinerary. Suggestions from Random House include:
Young Readers
Lucy Rose, series by Katy Kelly
Gooney Bird and the Room Mother and Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry
Junie B. Jones, series by Barbara Park
Babymouse, series by Jennifer Holm
Grk, series by Joshua Doder
Nate, Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Shamat
Middle Grade Readers
Harriet from Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Mr. Juniper from The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School by Candace Fleming
Georges & Safer from Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
Chuck & Ales in Racing the Moon by Alan Armstrong
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Young Adult Readers
Lonnie Jackson from Hoops by Walter Dean Myers
Teenie by Christopher Grant
Hailey Tarbell in Banished by Sophie Littlefield
Brett in Brett McCarthy: Work in Progress by Maria Padlan
The Sammy Keyes Series by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Tell readers that a very rich person has given money for someone to take a special spring break trip. The donor needs a letter that explains why the person deserves a trip. Ask readers to pick a deserving main character from a book they’ve read and write a letter in their support. Plan a panel of judges to select the character for the trip. Book suggestions from Random House include:
Middle Grade Readers
All the Way Home by Patricia Reilly Giff
Flush by Carl Hiassen
One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath
Heart of a Shepherd by Roseanne Parry
Holes by Louis Sachar
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Young Adult Readers
The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
The Lost Songs by Caroline B. Cooney
Ball Don’t Lie by Matt de la Peña
Last Exit to Normal by Michael Harmon
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
The Decoding of Lana Morris by Laura & Tom McNeal
Surface Tension by Rent Runyon
Sparrow by Sherri L. Smith
What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson
