Top Circulated Books of January
Each month I am going to walk you through which books are the "Fine Nine" in our library. I will do my best to share why they have found themselves on the top of the highly circulated books chart. Most of the time I already know the answer to that question, but sometimes I may have to get student input on their choices... because even in this first month, I was surprised by a couple titles. Let's get caught up with January.
In order of most circulated:
1. I Survived: The Shark Attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis - I have a feeling I Survived books will be on the most circulated list for as long as there are new releases, which there is a new one out this month! I was surprised to see this on the top of the list since the most recent one to our library is one about the Joplin Tornadoes. It must be the sharks!
2. Gone Fishing by Tamara Will Wissinger - This is a quick story about a fishing trip that is told in poems. For the most part it is being checked out often so kids can get their Sunflower Reader finished, which is a list of 16 genres for the third through fifth grades. Being a quick read, one of the few poetry selections, and an upper second grade level it is a go-to book for many kids. I like that this one uses a variety of poem styles and tells you what kind of poem each entry is.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney - Another of the most popular series in the library came out with a new book recently. Now that this book is off of First Reader Raffles, it is begin put "on hold" like crazy.
4. Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes - Another poetry selection from the William Allen White list. This one is mid-fourth grade level and also worth one point on AR so many 5th graders have chosen this one. I love the story of a young girl day dreaming, the teacher getting after her, only to find out that daydreaming is okay in the end.
5. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - Instant classic that third graders are getting into here recently. I think the recommendation came from their teacher and I couldn't agree more with their love for it! I overheard one of the girls telling her friends that her older sister keeps making her read it outloud at home because she loves the book too.
6. White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan - Another William Allen White nominee being highly circulated for being a simpler chapter book for third graders. This one is about a family that fosters Great Pyrenees dogs and how those dogs change the lives of their grumpy neighbors.
7. Black Beauty by Cathy East - This was the big shocker for me. So much so I had to go on a hunt to find it. From what I can tell a group of friends have recommended this book to each other and it's spreading like wildfire with the third grade girls. Goes to show recommendations are the best way to find and share new books!
8. I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshsis - Titanic is always a hot topic with kids, so there is no exception with the I Survived series. I've read only a couple of these books and this particular one is my favorite so far.
9. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - This one has also been "on hold" on a consistant basis. It was the Newbery winner last year and rightfully so. It's a story told in prose about two twin brothers who start to find out there is more to life than basketball. We are all looking forward to the next book of Kwame's about soccer, entitled Booked, which comes out in April!
I am interested to see how our student body's selection changes over the course of the year. Or will their favorites always be their favorites? What books can your kids not get enough of?
- Audra Reed
