Talbot County Library staff are delighted to be able to offer the very popular Vox collection of children’s books, which feature an audio recording of each story built in. Standing from left, Children’s Librarian Laura Powell, Acquisitions Librarian Karen Collier. Seated is Communications Manager Christina Acosta.
Whether you wind down your summer at the beach, in the mountains, or with a poolside staycation, diving into a good book can offer a trove of relaxing downtime.
But with so many titles to choose from, you may need a guide to help find that perfect summer read.
At Talbot County Free Library, the entire staff, starting with Director Dana Newman, is dedicated to helping readers of every age and interest explore the fertile summer reading landscape.
Circulation staffers, in particular, frequently field questions from patrons they’ve gotten to know over the years, on which books they themselves might choose, Newman noted.
Christina Acosta, the library’s Communications Manager (who also leads the popular Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Book Club), suggested patrons check the frequently updated display shelves where new, noteworthy, and bestselling books are highlighted and best seller listings are located, as well as the library’s own Instagram page.
Another helpful tool is Acquisitions Librarian Karen Collier’s popular flyer listing top titles. Often, the most popular titles may be checked out, but a hold can be placed, putting readers in line to reserve it upon return.
Using Reader’s Advisory protocol, staffers do their best to suggest books by first asking patrons about their favorite genres (romance, mystery, suspense, etc.), authors they’ve previously read and liked, plus specific books they enjoyed.
Collier also mentioned getting help from another invaluable tool, the library’s online subscription to NovelList Plus eResource, available on the library’s website.
“It helps pull together lists of books and authors that may be a match for your preferences, with notes on which factors prompted the match,” Collier noted.
Asked to narrow down specific summer reading titles and trends, Collier was able to pinpoint several, backed by stats and her own observations.
“Beach themed books seem to be perennially popular summer reading. I guess there’s just something special about reading a book that’s set on the beach, while sitting at the beach, or even wishing to be at the beach,” she commented.
“I do think there’s a bit of a tendency toward lighter fare in reading choices (this time of year); something upbeat and fun, a sort of vacation for the brain, which pairs very well with a beach chair and a cool drink,” Collier added.
“A few perennially popular (and best selling) authors that come to mind for summer reads are Emily Henry, Elin Hildebrand, Susan Mallory, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, and Nancy Thayer,” she mentioned.
Among these authors, Hildebrand’s latest, “The Five Star Weekend,” “Henry’s Happy Place,” “Mallory’s The Happiness Plan” and “Thayer’s The Seaside Library,” have all been in great demand.
“I think a lot of people, when asking for a great summer read, really are wondering about what’s popular now. There’s an appeal to reading the it book of the moment, no matter what the season, so you can talk about it with friends and acquaintances, who’ve read it, too,” Collier observed.
Along with “The Five Star Weekend, Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garnus and “The Covenant of Water,” by Abraham Verghese had waiting lists in the triple digits (counting library user requests across the Shore), according to Collier. Extra copies of these have been ordered, to help keep wait times reasonable.
For those seeking local works, Collier suggested “The Isaiah Fountain Case, historical nonfiction set on the Eastern Shore, by Joseph Koper, “Stardust by the Bushel,” another nonfiction study exploring Eastern Shore/Hollywood ties, by Brent Lewis, and “A Wife in Watercolor,” historical fiction, also locally set, during Colonial times, by B.B. Shamp.
She also suggested checking the Eastern Shore Writers Association website (https://www.easternshorewriters.org) and independent Salisbury publisher Secant Publishing (https://www.secantpublishing.com).
Kiddos, Tweens, and Teens
The joy of leisurely summer reading is by no means solely a grown up pastime.
This time of year, Children’s Librarian Laura Powell frequently overhears comments between youngsters, parents, and guardians about stocking up on books to check out and take on vacation.
“By the numbers, the local kids seem to be the most fervent summer readers,” Collier noted. “Our children’s materials show the most dramatic increase in usage over the summer months, and it makes sense–with school out, there’s more time for recreational reading. Plus, the library’s annual summer reading game is incredibly popular, doing a great job of encouraging summer reading; it runs through August 12.”
(Essentially part of the national nonprofit Collaborative Summer Library Program, featuring this year’s theme All Together Now, each Mid-Shore county library system offers opportunities to participate, as well.)
Talbot’s Summer Reading began June 12, but officially kicked off with the library’s highly successful 8th annual Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival on June 24th.
Open to the widest possible range of youngsters, from birth through 18 (being read to counts!), a fun coloring game board helps kids record each book they finish; for every 10, they get to choose a free book at the library.
All youngsters handing in boards by August 12 receive Chik-Fil-A and/or Wendy’s Frosty Jr. coupons. Their names are also entered into a raffle drawing for several wrapped gift baskets of complete book sets from nearby Flying Cloud Bookstore.
(An Adult Summer Reading initiative for grown up readers runs through August 31, featuring a bingo card which can be turned in for a chance to win a Grand Prize.)
For book ideas, a handout, Reading with Jenna, Jr., from Today Show host Jenna Hager Bush, is available at the library, featuring her favorite titles for picture book (“Very Good Hats,” “Juneteenth,” “Why Did the Monster Cross the Road,” “The Giving Tree”), middle grade (“Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea,” “School Trip: A Graphic Novel, Starfish”), and young adult (“Nigeria Jones,” “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich,” “Borderless”), with a scannable QR code with more ideas.
“I think the most interesting trend here has been the incredible popularity of our Children’s Readalongs collection of Vox Books. It’s a relatively new format for kids that’s basically a picture book with an audio recording built in, so kids çan listen as they read along. They’re all but flying off the shelves,” noted Collier.
The collection came to Talbot through the special effort of Roo Wood, in remembrance of his son Peter, an especially dedicated library volunteer, who died at the age of 22, recalled Newman.
Throughout Summer Reading, fun, free programs offer enrichment and additional incentives to visit the library.
A Hummingbird Book Club, billed as “by kids and for kids,” gives young readers a chance to share the joy of books with others.
Plus, ongoing library outreach ensures that no potential reader is left behind.
Hesitant young readers can gently practice reading to sweet, petite, therapy dog Tiger on Monday, August 21 at 4 P.M.
Another relaxed reading adventure for kids is Pop Schools in the Park, a cooperative program between the library and Talbot County Public Schools, featuring stories read by Superintendent Dr. Sharon Pepukayi and free books from the library to take home.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Imagination Library, begun by Dolly Parton, which sends free books to all youngsters registered. “It’s a wonderful way to help kids begin their own personal libraries at home,” Newman noted.
While the library’s convenient digital collections have been growing in popularity, for all ages, it seems, still nothing takes the place of holding an actual book in one’s hands, Newman, Powell and Acosta concurred.
For more information, visit Talbot County Free Library at 100 West Dover Street in Easton, online at www.tcfl.org, or call 410-822-1626.
