June 2021 Reading Challenge - Kids' Book Spotlight - Easy Collection

Did you know you can complete more than one reading challenge this summer? 

FCPL's June Reading Challenge is to "Read a Book By or About Someone with a Similar Background to Your Own". 

The Read Your World challenges include a diverse range of characters! Reading diverse books allows readers of all ages to see themselves in a story. If these challenges are not about a background similar to yours, that's ok! Next month's Reading Challenge is to read about someone with a different background from yours! 

Here are some diverse books from our Easy and Early Reader collections to get you started!

Picture Books

Read a Book Featuring a Character on the Autism Spectrum

It Was Supposed to Be Sunny 

by Samantha Cotterill

Laila's birthday party, perfectly planned with her autism in mind, goes awry due to a change in weather and an accident with her cake, but with the help of her mom and her service dog, Laila knows she can handle this.

Read a Book about Poverty or Homelessness

Lubna and Pebble

by Wendy Meddour

Lubna's best friend is a pebble. Pebble always listens to her stories. Pebble always smiles when she feels scared. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna realizes that he needs Pebble even more than she does.

Read a Book by a Latin American Author

Mango, Abuela, and Me

by Meg Medina 

Mia's Abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can't read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English ("Dough. Masa"), and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it's still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better.

Early Readers

Read a Book by a South Asian Author

Yasmin the Superhero

by Saadia Faruqi

Yasmin gathers a cape and mask and sets out to find a villain to defeat with her "super powers"-- however there are no villains hiding on her block, just neighbors who need a little help.

Read an Award Winner Featuring a Diverse Character

Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom!

by Kelly Starling Lyons

Ty cannot wait to ride his new scooter, but when he has a hard time learning and wants to quit, a new friend encourages him to give it another try.

(ALA Notable Children's Books- 2021)

Read a Book by a Black Author

I Love Being Me!

by Mechal Renee Roe

Illustrations and rhyming text reveal all of the things girls love about themselves, from their nose, toes, and skin to their ability to spin, run, and cook.

And don't forget Summer Reading Fun! You can count these books towards your reading goal as well!

Stephani Lindsey

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

#WeKnowBooks