ASTON, Dianna Hutts. A Rock is Lively. illus. by Sylvia Long. Chronicle. 2012. ISBN 9781452106458. JLG Level: NEK: Nonfiction Early Elementary (Grades K-2)

The team that brought us An Egg is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006) is back this fall with a new nonfiction picture book about a well-loved topic—rocks. In their award-winning style, Hutts and Long tell the multi-faceted story about how rocks are made, how they help us, and how we use them. Gorgeous illustrations (even on the end pages) strengthen the text. You’ll want to add this to your geology collection and perhaps put a few rock samples nearby.

BANG, Molly and Penny Chisholm. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas. illus. by Molly Bang. Scholastic/Blue Sky. 2012. ISBN 9780545273220. JLG Level: SCE: Science Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2-6)

The pair behind Living Sunlight (Scholastic) brings us Ocean Sunlight for the fall. Though it may seem there are so many facts included in the few short pages of the picture book, there are far more phytoplankton in the seas. The earth’s surface is 75% water. From those that eat the phytoplankton to those who eat marine snow (“poop and mucus, carcasses and guts”), the ocean is full of life and food. Back matter includes even more facts to share with our voracious readers.

HALL, Michael. Cat Tale. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2012. ISBN  9780061915161. JLG Level: P: Primary (Grades K-1)

It’s math. It’s language. It’s art. It’s lots of fun. Hall is back (My Heart is Like a Zoo) with a new geometrical rhyming adventure for the young and young at heart. Lillian, Tilly, and William J. explore the world as words lead the way. “They pack some books and kitty chews. They choose a spot. They spot some ewes.” Somewhere along the way, things get jumbled up, but they straighten out the tale, and start their adventure again. Bright pictures and a large font add to the ease of sharing this book with a group.

HOOD, Susan. Spike, the Mixed-Up Monster. illus. by Melissa Sweet. S & S/Paula Wiseman. Sept. 2012. ISBN 9781442406018. JLG Level: K: Kindergarten (Grades PreK-K)

Sometimes a picture book does more than entertain at storytime. Such is the case in this title. Spike wants to be a big scary monster, but he’s actually tiny and cute. When a scary Gila monster arrives on the scene, Spike accidentally saves the day and becomes the hero. Readers will love the underdog theme and the surprising Gila monster. In addition to offering a moral to the story, the book includes photos and facts about Spike and his friends. It’s also bilingual and includes a Spanish word glossary. Brilliant!

WILLEMS, Mo. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. illus. by author. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. 2012. ISBN 9780062104182. HE: Humor Elementary (grades 2-6)

Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.” Even without the illustrations, you can’t help but laugh. The story begs to be read aloud–again and again. Willems’ hilarious retelling of Goldilocks is a surefire winner. And it’s Mo Willems. Enough said.

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Seven Title I media centers throughout the district continue to keep their doors open two hours each week, and local kids are welcome to read, check out books, or attend read-alouds. Although it’s not a new concept, it’s the first time Salem-Keizer has kept summer hours—and so far, kids seem to be enjoying it, says Stephen Cox, the district’s library media program specialist.

“This program is for students who are unable to get to the public library to participate in their summer reading program,” says Cox, explaining that the open school libraries are located in buildings that offer the Summer Meal program, where any qualified child age 18 and under can eat lunch, and sometimes breakfast, for free five days a week. “After and before lunch, students are encouraged to go to the school library to check out a book.”

Between 10 and 50 children visit the five elementary and two middle school libraries each week, thanks to $3,500 provided by the district’s Salem-Keizer Education Foundation to keep them open. And, as part of the program—which was widely promoted on the district’s website and at individual schools—students can earn a ticket for each book they read, which can then be entered in weekly drawings for prizes. A grand prize drawing is planned for August.

Although the libraries are run by assistants and parent volunteers rather than certified media specialists, it’s still a step in the right direction for the state’s second largest school district. Back in April 2011, the district lost 90 percent of its librarians when Superintendent Sandy Husk proposed cutting 48 elementary and middle school media specialists in an effort to save $3 million, says Cox. Oregon doesn’t mandate certified school librarians for any grade.

While it’s still too soon to know what impact summer school library hours will have on reading scores, experts know that the “summer slide,” which describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months, is real. Studies show that kids who read during the summer gain reading skills, while those who don’t often slide backward.

“A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year,” says a report from the National Summer Learning Association. “It’s common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer. That month of re-teaching eliminates a month that could have been spent on teaching new information and skills.”

The report notes that family income plays a significant role in determining the extent of the summer slide, with students from low-income families experiencing the cumulative effects of greater learning loss each summer throughout their elementary school years.

Cox says circulation stats at the end of the summer will show just how popular the program was with students-and there are plans to conduct “action research” to find out whether the reading scores of participants went up, down, or stayed the same.