Story Tags

A Perfectly Unhaunted Place book cover

Spooky stories to read around an autumn campfire

(or under a blanket fort with a flashlight)

As the leaves begin to yellow at the edges and the wind begins to blow a little cooler, it becomes the perfect time of year to settle in with a good ghost story. If you're taking an early fall camping trip, be sure to tote along one of these haunting middle grade books (grades 3-7) to pass the time. Or just read them at home with a flashlight under the covers--as long as you don't stay up too late.

Fever 1793

History Meets Fiction

Great Historical Fiction for ages 9-14

The DC Public Library and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History have teamed up to highlight some great novels all about American history! As we head back into the school year, dive into some great historical fiction and hear a new perspective throughout different periods in American history.

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Five Books That Got Me Interested in Reading

Reading used to be a chore for me. I used to cringe every time I had English/Literature class through my elementary/middle school years. I sat in the back and rarely raised my hand. I had done the reading required for that day. I had pretty good "reading comprehension" skills even though I didn't know it was even called that at that age. That wasn't the problem. I just was never interested in the books they had us reading at that time.

We came to America

Kids' American History Reads

In coordination with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Read about America with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History! These picture and chapter books are wonderful family reads and are a great tool to help your family develop a sense of home and aspiration for the future of the country. Whether you're a history buff or just avoiding summer slide, these picks will move you, inspire you, and wrap you up in a world that was, so that you can help to decide what the world will become.  Picture Books

The Lake

Read Around the World: Japan

Japanese literature that isn't by Haruki Murakami

Expand your literary horizons by reading literature from other countries. Haruki Murakami is one of the most well-known authors in Japanese literature. Yet he is only one of many modern Japanese writers whose works are accessible in translation. A wide variety of genres and styles are represented in the selections below (all of which can be accessed through DC Public Library's stellar and diverse collection). Young Readers (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)

Elephant and Piggie

Picture Book Madness

Who will be Palisades' most beloved picture book character?

Some of the most beloved picture book characters are going head-to-head, and you get to choose the winner. Stop by the Children's Room, read books with each character and vote for your favorite at the Children's Desk. Check the bracket in the Children's Room every week to see who makes it to the next round, and who will be crowned Palisades' favorite picture book character. The madness begins on March 1 and the winner will be revealed on March 31.

The Boy with 17 Senses

Worlds Where Senses Mix, Part One

Explorations of Synesthesia in Children's Fiction

Young people are often taught that humans have five separate senses. However, the neurological condition of synesthesia, in which a stimulus of one sense involuntarily evokes another sense, challenges the assumed universality of distinct senses. Although once thought to be very rare, recent scientific research has found that as many as 4 percent of people have at least one of over 80 kinds of synesthesia.

The Year of the Dog

It's the Year of the Dog

Celebrate Chinese New Year with these reads for all ages

The Chinese New Year is a time for fresh beginnings, celebrations with friends and family and honoring ancestors. These books will give insight into how Chinese New Year is celebrated, and how centuries-old traditions came to be. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

the doubtful guest

Gothic Fiction for the Whole Family (Part 1: Children)

A celebration of old-world-style scares

It's never too early to introduce your child to Gothic and Modern Gothic literature (or to develop a taste for it yourself). This glorious genre explores negativity in a manageable package. With supernatural elements and an exploration of feelings like unhappiness and loneliness, both Gothic and Modern Gothic literature provide a unique opportunity for readers to explore and discuss some of the more challenging and gruesome aspects of life, and to find ways to cope with scary and negative feelings in their day-to-day lives.

Ella Minnow Pea

FUNomenal Wordplay

Novels for Wordplay Lovers

For most of my life I've been fond of zany wordplay, such as palindromes, anagrams, puns, lipograms, pangrams, oxymorons, and alliteration. I have discovered some novelists who share a similar fascination and whimsically employ wordplay in their fiction, even as they also explore deeper themes. If you too are a wordplay enthusiast, check out the children's and adult novels below.

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