Read With Jenna Jr. Summer Reading Recommendations

Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read with Jenna Jr.” is an annual tradition that was started in 2023. It continues every summer, with Jenna releasing a kid-friendly reading list covering various age groups, including picture books, middle grade reads, and young adult books.

We’ve included all the books in the NLS collection starting from the first year of Jenna’s Jr. Summer Reading Recommendations. We’re hoping you can find something that will fill your summer with reading fun!

For more information check out the Read with Jenna Jr. website.

Picture Books

MAXINE GETS A JOB by Alexandra Garyn (DB 121796)
GAGA MISTAKE DAY by Emma Straub (DB 121991)
PERLA, THE MIGHTY DOG by Isabel Allende (DB 121789, en español DB 122285)
VERY GOOD HATS by Emma Straub (DB 115352)
BIG by Vashti Harrison (DB 123132)
GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein (DBC 06031, BR 19020, BT 0000207, LB 0001793)
HOW TO WRITE A POEM by Kwame Alexander (DB 114707)

Middle Grade Books

ALONE by Megan Freeman (DB 104269, LB 14467)
SUMMER AT SQUEE by Andrea Wang (DB 120743)
MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller (DB 121279)
BRIDGE TO BAT CITY by Ernest Cline (DB 123053)
MID-AIR by Alicia Williams (DB 127046)
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET by Judy Blume (DB 37405, BR 07171, BRG 03180, BT 0000220, LB 03468, LB 06053)
ONE AND ONLY RUBY by Katherine Applegate (DB 115989, BT 0000113)
WAYS TO GROW LOVE by Renée Watson (DB 104005, BT 13463)
HUMAN KABOOM by Adam Rubin (DB 114731)
STARFISH by Lisa Fipps (DB 102975, BR 24096, en español DB 121063, LB 0000472)
SCHOOL TRIP by Jerry Craft (DB 115050)

Young Adult Books

RULES FOR RULE BREAKING by Talia Tucker (DB 120104)
SUMMER NIGHTS AND METEORITES by Hannah Reynolds (DB 121707)
POWERLESS by Lauren Roberts (DB 117629, en español DB 119901)
CHECK & MATE by Ali Hazelwood (DB 117989, LB 0001455)
ONE TRUE LOVES by Elise Bryant (DB 107017)
BLOOD AT THE ROOT by LaDarrion Williams (DB 121038)
NIGERIA JONES by Ibi Aanu Zoboi (DB 116574)
WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley (DB 114761, BR 25116)
SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han (DB 116483, LB 0000284)

Marfield Prize for Outstanding Writing about the Arts

Since 2006, the Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is announced annually by the Arts Club of Washington. The award recognizes the author of an outstanding nonfiction book about the visual, literary, media, or performing arts. This $10,000 prize is designed to recognize excellence in arts writing for a broad audience. The winner was announced in mid-April, and the prize was awarded on June 4.  

For more information check out the Marfield Prize website.

Titles in the NLS collection are:

Winner

CHASING BEAUTY: THE LIFE OF ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER by Natalie Dykstra (DBC 11759)

Nominees

3 SHADES OF BLUE: MILES DAVIS, JOHN COLTRANE, BILL EVANS, AND THE LOST EMPIRE OF COOL by James Kaplan (DB 119773)
COCKTAILS WITH GEORGE AND MARTHA: MOVIES, MARRIAGE, AND THE MAKING OF WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? by Philip Gefter (DB 121300)
GET THE PICTURE: A MIND-BENDING JOURNEY AMONG THE INSPIRED ARTISTS AND OBSESSIVE ART FIENDS WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEE by Bianca Bosker (DB 119366)
DRAWN TESTIMONY: MY FOUR DECADES AS A COURTROOM SKETCH ARTIST by Jane Rosenberg (DB 126498)

Past Award Recipients in the TBP collection:

2023: ALL THE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD: THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AND ME by Patrick Bringley (DB 113368, en español DB 126480)
2022: MR. B: GEORGE BALANCHINE’S 20TH CENTURY by Jennifer Homans (DB 111898)
2018: LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean (DB 92869, BRC 01820, LB 11432)
2016: YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR LIFE: THE STORY OF RAINER MARIA RILKE AND AUGUSTE RODIN by Rachel Corbett (DB 86724)
2015: RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY by Michael Riedel (DB 88018)
2013: INSIDETHE DREAM PALACE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY CHELSEA HOTEL by Sherill Tippins (DBC 27079)
2012: LADY IN GOLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF GUSTAV KLIMT’S MASTERPIECE, PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCH-BAUER by Anne-Marie O’Connor (DB 75392)
2008: WHITE HEAT: THE FRIENDSHIP OF EMILY DICKINSON AND THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON by Brenda Wineapple (DB 69087)
2006: STEEL DRIVIN’ MAN: JOHN HENRY, THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN AMERICAN LEGEND by Scott Reynolds Nelson (DB 67453)

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Lisa Fittipaldi

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with world recognized artist and Texas author, Lisa Fittipaldi.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with her about her career as an artist as well as her book, BRUSH WITH DARKNESS: LEARNING TO PAINT AFTER LOSING MY SIGHT (DB 60724, BRG 02047). A Q&A chat will follow.

Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!

Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

We invite you to ask Lisa Fittipaldi questions about her book. Please submit your questions by June 12. We will select questions based on the responses, and they may be asked during the event! Fill out the form here: Author Questions

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here

Or if you prefer, reply to this email or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with her book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

BRUSH WITH DARKNESS: LEARNING TO PAINT AFTER LOSING MY SIGHT (DB 60724, BRG 02047) by Lisa Fittipaldi.

NLS Annotation: Author discusses her life after being diagnosed with vasculitis in her forties. Describes her feelings of despair during her first two years of blindness. Relates that a gift from her husband–a child’s watercolor set–became the catalyst for her new career as a renowned painter, and for her new outlook. 2004.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, June 19!