Lackawanna County Library System Hosts Junior Battle of the Books

Teams of readers from all over Lackawanna County will compete in the Junior Battle of the Books on Thursday, August 6 at 6:30 at the Moscow Borough Building, next door to the North Pocono Public Library. The event is for kids in Grades 4 through 6.

I've spent the last week catching up on my reading for this age group, since I'm going to be one of the judges. I've read four great books, selected by the LCLS youth services librarians.

The first book I read was Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid. This very popular book is the first in a series that features Greg, who records his experiences and thoughts about sixth grade. His stories about popularity, friendship, and family are both funny and true.

Next, I read Scat. In this book, Nick and his friend Marta find themselves swept up in a mystery that includes an endangered species, a wildfire, and their biology teacher. The book is written by Carl Hiaasen, best known for his mysteries for grownups.

I'm almost finished with The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. Ten-year-old Kenny Watson and his family live in Flint, Michigan. They head south to visit his grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama, during one of the most frightening times in the Civil Rights movement.

I have one more book to read before Thursday. It's called Chasing Vermeer, and it was written by Blue Balliett. It's another mystery, this time about the disappearance of a famous painting.

So far, all the books I've read have been really good and very interesting. The librarians did a great job of picking books that are appealing, fun to read, and full of good information. If you're in Grades 4 to 6, or if you know someone who is, I recommend that you read these books. They are all available at the Lackawanna County Library System library closest to you.