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Nine great reads to get your kid on the right page heading back to school

Hot reading tips and cool fall programs from North Vancouver District Public Library
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Kaira Hirji tries on a new hat at the Capilano branch of the North Vancouver District Public Library with the director of library services Jacqueline van Dyk and DNV Fire Chief Brian Hutchinson. photo Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

With school set to start in a few weeks and summer winding down, we hit up the good folks at North Vancouver District Public Library for some reading recommendations for kids this fall. 

Here are nine titles to get kids fired up about reading as the days grow shorter, school starts and a chill hits the air:

Super Sketchy, by Ted Staunton (The Almost Epic Squad series)

This exciting Canadian series will keep readers turning pages! In Super Sketchy, Daisy is starting over at a new school and she wishes she wasn’t there. When Daisy uses a certain pencil though, she finds out that she becomes whatever she draws. If only her drawing skills were more accurate! Try this book or others in the series: Mucus Mayhem (Kevin Sylvester), What Blows Up (Ted Staunton), Irresistible (Richard Scrimger).

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, by Jason Reynolds

This is a novel told in 10 blocks, showing all the different directions a walk home can take. The story was going to begin with a school bus falling from the sky, but no one saw it happen. They were all too busy on their own journeys home. This is a funny, poignant look at the detours taken as we walk along our own paths.

Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray, by Jess Keating

Nikki Tesla is a lonely young inventor who isn’t willing to give up her passion for invention. When her death ray accidentally blows up her bedroom she is sent to the only place that can handle her: Genius Academy. Nikki struggles to fit in and feels like an outsider thanks to a secret that she can’t let anyone discover. When her death ray is stolen, Nikki must do her best to fit in and play nice to figure out who is the thief.

Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga

Jude’s home in Syria has become unsafe so she and her mother travel to the safety of a relative’s home in Cincinnati. Her father and brother must stay behind and Jude worries for them as she adjusts to a new life full of surprises.

Zenobia July, by Lisa Bunker

Zenobia July is starting fresh this year. She used to live in Arizona with her father but now she’s in Maine with her aunts. In the past, she spent her time behind a computer screen working on her coding and hacking skills but in her new home she’s coming out of her shell and making new friends. In Maine, she can live openly as the girl she knew she always was. When someone anonymously posts hateful messages on the school website, Zenobia knows that she can solve the mystery.

The Pigeon has to go to School, by Mo Willems

Everyone’s favourite pigeon is back and he’s not so happy about the idea of going to school since he already knows everything! This loveable pigeon is a teeny bit nervous about going to school, but he soon changes his tune once he sees the school bus. If you’ve read Willem’s other pigeon books, you’ll know how our feathered friend feels about buses. … If you have a little one anxious to go to school for the first time, this would be a great book to read this summer.

If I Built A School, by Chris Van Dusen

If you could design a school, what would it look like? Imagine a school with pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. Reading this book might inspire readers to create their own dream school!

Back to School: A Global Journey, by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko

Imagine what it is like to travel to school by rickshaw, boat, or even a camel. In this informational picture book, you’ll learn how children from all parts of the world are going back to school.

The King of Kindergarten, by Derrick Barnes 

Starting kindergarten is a big milestone, and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He’s dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can’t wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he’s up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can’t wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements – and then wake up to start another day.

Newbery Honor-winning author Derrick Barnes’s empowering story will give new kindergarteners a reassuring confidence boost, and Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s illustrations exude joy.

The library is also offering a wide range of programs starting in the fall. Here are a few of the highlights:

-Parent Child Mother Goose at Capilano Library. Tuesdays starting Oct. 1.

-Paws 4 Stories at Lynn Valley Library. Starts Thursday, Sept. 19.

-Fun with Lego at Parkgate Library. Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, Nov. 23, 10:30 a.m.-12:30p.m.

-Pro-D Day Fun. All NVDPL locations. Oct. 4, Oct. 25, Feb. 7 and May 4.

-After School Fun at the Library (early dismissal days). All NVDPL locations. Sept. 25, Nov. 20, Jan. 29, April 29 and May 27, 2 p.m-4 p.m.

Visit the library's website for more info.