Read It, Hear It, Play It

READ IT!

The Library is a great destination for reading; we have tons of great books! Best of all? They’re free! If you would like help finding a good book, please don’t hesitate to ask! Staff members are happy to give you a recommendation. We have many booklists available on popular topics, suggestions for different grade levels, and read-a-likes.

In the meantime, try these recommended reading lists. All titles are owned by Hinsdale Public Library and recommended by our staff.

• Book Browse: What’s New in Children’s Picture Books and Readers
• Book Browse: What’s New in Kids’ Fiction
• Great Reads for Young Children
• Family Friendly Read-Alouds
• Graphic Novels
• Folktales

Are you a boy? We recommend checking out Michael Sullivan’s website, Tales Told Tall.

More Book Suggestions

The Library also offers NoveList, an online resource that can help you find books just right for you. If you’ve just read a book and want to read something like it, NoveList can help. Look up the book you read and click on “Find Similar Books.” Select the subjects you liked about the book, and choose reading levels and other qualifications you would like.

You can also use NoveList to read reviews about books, search by topic or genre (such as mysteries, fantasy, or realistic fiction), or search by Lexile levels. Try it out! All you need is your Hinsdale Public Library card number, and you can log in from home or in the Library.

Series and Sequels

Want to know the name of a book’s sequel, or find out all the books in a series? Here are two great websites from other libraries we use to help us find out about books in series.

• MCPL Juvenile Series and Sequels
• KDL What’s Next™: Books In Series

HEAR IT!

Audiobooks

Listening to audiobooks is an enjoyable activity for individuals or whole families together. Listening to books provides many benefits, including:

• Improves listening and comprehension skills
• Increases vocabulary
• Teaches the proper pronunciation of words
• Helps readers “see” a story by using imagination instead of illustrations
• Helps motivate children to read more by an author they’ve been introduced to through an audiobook

Come check out audiobooks on cassette tape, CD, or Playaway (one book loaded onto a digital portable player, like a pre-loaded MP3 player). For younger readers, we have kits with an audiobook and the book. You can also download audiobooks from home to play on your computer or MP3 player.

• Recommended Audiobooks for Families
• Juvenile Playaways
• Download Audiobooks through eMediaLibrary
  

Music

We have a wide array of styles of music from favorite children’s artists to popular soundtracks. Not only does music encourage imaginative play, it is another great way to encourage early literacy in children and helps build up their musical intelligence. Try some of the popular artists we have in our collection.

• Music for Kids

PLAY IT!

DVDs and CD-ROMs

Bored? Need a new challenge? Want a creative and fun way to spend time with your friends and family? Why not check out some of our educational and entertaining DVDs or CD-ROMs.

• CD-ROMs for Kids
• Family-Friendly Movies

KidSmarts Computers

The Library has six computers pre-loaded with educational and fun games for kids to play. The KidSmarts games include favorites like Thomas and Friends, Dora, Lego Racers 2, Barbie Horse Adventures, and Zoo Tycoon 2. These computers have games for babies through elementary age.

Ask a librarian to log into the KidSmarts computer for you. All kids are allowed one half hour turn on the KidSmarts game computers, but if no one else wants a turn, you can play longer. These games are also available for checkout in our CD-ROM collection.

Internet Computers

The Youth Services Department has six computers to use for Internet and homework. Parental permission is required to use the Internet for children under the age of sixteen.