Rain or shine, good summer reads for children suggested by Worcester Public Library

WORCESTER - Between the haze from Canadian forest fires and a particularly rainy June, parents have been scrambling for ways to keep their kids entertained indoors.

While the weather conditions are unlikely to prevent opportunities for beach reading in the next two months, the Worcester Public Library is ready for young readers, some of whom will arrive with summer reading lists in hand.

"It's summer so people are checking out a lot of books here," said librarian Cara Young at the children's section.

While kids and families will often gravitate toward the next installment in a popular series, such as "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" or "Dogman," Young has noticed an increased desire for something new.

"There's also a lot of representation," she said. "It's huge."

Here's a look at what Worcester children are reading and suggestions for parents to recommend on their next library trip:

1. "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton - If Hogwarts were an international school and located in the sky, you would have something like "The Marvellers."

2. "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston - A supernatural mystery following young Amari as she searches for her missing brother and, after finding a mysterious briefcase, enters a world of witches and goblins.

3. "Freestyle" by Gale Galligan - A coming-of-age graphic novel about aspiring middle-school dancer Cory in New York City. "I would say graphics are probably the most popular genre with elementary and younger middle school kids," said Young.

4. "I Survived - The Nazi Invasion, 1944" by Lauren Tarshis - Another installment in the "I Survived" series, which tells the story of children during some of history's most calamitous events. This graphic novel follows young Max and his sister, Zena, during the Nazi invasion of Poland.

5. "Bug Boys: Adventures and Daydreams" by Laura Knetzger - A graphic novel for younger readers following two young stag beetles as they explore the world around them and learn about science and friendship. "Sometimes (kids) like slightly sillier things," Young said.

6. "Stacey's Remarkable Books" by Stacey Abrams, illustrated by Kitt Thomas - Stacey Abrams, author of "While Justice Sleeps," produced this children's picture book about the power of books to expose children to other cultures. Books like this are usually picked out by adults, said Young. "They're kind of geared toward caregivers to read for their kids who are like 3 to 6 years old."

7. "Hello World - Garden Time" by Jill McDonald - As the weather improves, any budding gardeners will enjoy this book, filled with easily digestible facts and engaging art, for gardening both in and out of the city.

8. "The Year We Learned to Fly" by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael Lopez - Perfect for rainy days, the picture book follows two siblings stuck inside and encouraged by their grandmother to use their imagination.

9. "Pigs Make Me Sneeze!" by Mo Willems - Part of the "Elephant and Piggie" series and a go-to for many children. "Kids love Mo Willems," said Young.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Books for children: Recommendations from the Worcester Public Library