Collections Overview: Junior Readers
Plano Public Library has something for everyone. Learn about the various library collections in this four-part miniseries under the Library 101 umbrella.
Today, we dive into our junior collections! So you’ve learned how to read — now what? Inspire a lifelong love of reading in your child by finding the right reading material for them.
Junior Reading Materials
Our junior reading collections are the bread and butter of beginning readers. Whether your child is interested in reading about heroes fighting dragons or about the life cycle of dragonflies, we have something for them. Check out our different collections below:
Junior Fiction
Our Junior Fiction collection encompasses everything from the earliest chapter books to more complex works that will interest middle schoolers. Explore familiar children’s authors like Beverley Cleary and Roald Dahl, or discover favorites from our new Junior Fiction.
We also have a robust children’s collection on Overdrive, which includes both fiction and nonfiction options. Check it out!
Junior Graphic Novels
Our Junior Graphic Novel collection offers a variety of reading levels and genres. Parents may be surprised to learn that graphic novels can be especially beneficial for reluctant readers, as interpreting images along with text creates an engaging multimedia experience.
To help determine which books and graphic novels are most suitable for your child, check out NoveList K-8, one of our databases! Use your library card to log in and search books by recommended age, genre and material type.
Junior Nonfiction and Biographies
You would be amazed at the level of interest children have in learning about their favorite subjects. When it comes to boldly-illustrated and well-researched books covering your child’s area of interest, Plano Public Library has you covered with our Junior Nonfiction and Junior Biography collections.
To get started, take a look at some options covering popular children’s nonfiction topics such as space flight, blue whales or Benjamin Franklin. Or, search a topic you know your child will love to read!
STEAM Kits & Backpacks
STEAM Kits, which offer dozens of educational kits for children of all ages, center around science, technology, engineering, art and math — fundamental areas of learning that will help prepare your child for the rigors of middle and high school. To learn more, check out our blog post on STEAM Kits in the library for more details about checking out and returning kits.
Beyond Kits, our Bilingual and Sensory Backpacks offer excellent learning options as well. Bilingual Backpacks feature materials to provide you and your child with an introduction to speaking another language. Designed with children with special needs and autism in mind, Sensory Backpacks often include reading materials and manipulatives to introduce different daily living topics. View our full collection of Bilingual Backpacks and Sensory Backpacks through the library catalog and place them on hold for pickup at any library location.
Junior Media Collections
Children’s literacy and learning goes beyond reading books. Media designed for children, including movies and audiobooks, contribute to an overall understanding of narrative structure and storytelling. Launchpads can provide fun and educational games curated to a specific topic.
Our Early Literacy collections overview includes several more options for kids’ media, so take a look for more details.
Junior DVDs
Movies and television shows designed for children live in our Junior DVD collection.
Need more kids’ viewing options? Check out Kanopy for Kids! With five credits per month for each library card, watch some children’s educational classics with your little ones.
Junior Audiobooks
Audiobook options for children include CD books and Playaways, which are interfiled in our Junior Audiobooks collection. Take home a CD book to play in the car or on a computer, or bring your own battery and headphones to listen to the whole story on a Playaway, an MP3 player-like device.
We also offer eAudiobooks for all ages through Overdrive. See our options for digital content on our eBooks and More page.
Launchpads
Launchpads are pre-loaded tablets with activities for kids, teens and adults to extend your learning experience. Kids’ Launchpads come with learning apps in a variety of subjects (reading, intro to science and math, and more) for hours of interactive learning.
With over 300 Launchpads in the library collection, there is something for everyone. See the entire collection online here.
Junior World Language Collections
In addition to the collections mentioned above, our Junior World Language collections can offer similar benefits to young readers of more than 10 different world languages. Many of our languages include Junior Fiction and Nonfiction options, great choices for elementary and middle school students.
Place items on hold for pickup at any one of our five locations, or call ahead to find out which world languages are available for browsing at your favorite location.
Access our eBooks and eAudiobooks through Overdrive or the Libby app, and you can request print books through our holds service in the library catalog. Our eBook collection is robust, with many read-alongs for kids, picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction, and young adult reads.
Placing holds is a great way to fast-track your library experience, or access materials not available at your closest library location. Check out this blog post on placing and picking up holds for more information.
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