Junior Lit Chat

Moving into your middle school years can be challenging. Not only are kids hard at work figuring out who they are and their place in the world... They are also starting to read independently and select their own books. It can sometimes be hard to find reading material that's both interesting and relatable (not to mention developmentally appropriate). That's where middle-grade fiction and characters like Stella Diaz come in!

Step into a world where bravery, teamwork, and a pair of magic shoes unite for thrilling adventures that are sure to ignite readers' imaginations! Mike the Friendly Firefighter: The Wild Car Fire by Brittany D. Jones follows the extraordinary journey of a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Engineer, who discovers that his job goes far beyond extinguishing flames. The first 50 children in attendance will receive a FREE copy of Mike the Friendly Firefighter: The Wild Car Fire, along with some other goodies!

Get lost in a world of reading and adventure this March 3-9 during Jacksonville's annual Celebrate Reading Week! Jacksonville Public Library and our partners at Kids Hope Alliance, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Early Learning Coalition Duval, Read USA, Duval County Public Schools, Read Jax, and WJCT have put together a fantastic series of programs and events at libraries and locations across Jacksonville! There will be book giveaways, a chance to learn more about Beanstack and Mayor Deegan's River City Readers challenge, and more!

"When her father dies, Amie’s ability to play music dies, too. Nothing short of a miracle can bring back what she has lost." Karen S. Chow's lyrical narrative, Miracle, is a story about the complexity of grief - told in a way that's accessible to children. Learn more about this remarkable book at a special author event intended for kids, ages 5-12.

Jax Book Fest is back at the Main Library and better than ever! Join us for the Main Event on Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. for an awesome lineup of New York Times bestselling authors and DOZENS of local authors! See who's scheduled to appear!

Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of over a hundred books for young people including the New York Times–bestselling book After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again). Though he's probably best known for The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, the magical story of a would-be imaginary friend who sets off on a journey looking for the child he's destined to befriend!

It's never easy when your magic goes wonky. For Nory, this means that instead of being able to turn into a dragon or a kitten, she turns into both of them at the same time -- a dritten! A two-time Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor winner and recipient of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, author Emily Jenkins is a favorite with children for her humor and sensitivity. Join the Junior Lit Chat Tuesday, September 5 from 6-6:30 p.m. at Southeast Library (intended for kids ages 5-12). A limited number of copies of Harry Versus the First One Hundred Days of School will be given away to participants, first come, first served.

Jacksonville is covered with all kinds of cool animal statues – jaguars, turtles, manatees and more! It can be really exciting when you spot one "out in the wild." While running to see a big blue statue of a manatee, three-year-old James was so excited that he got stuck in the mud and needed to be rescued by his grandmother. Hear this fun, true story with local author Ruth Lewis on August 4 at Beaches Branch Library. She'll also about family outings, real-life manatees, and more (intended for children ages 5 - 12).

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 books for young readers, among them The Red Pencil and A Poem for Peter, as well as several collaborations with her husband Brian Pinkney, including Sit-In and Hand in Hand, which received the Coretta Scott King Book Award. Join us for a Junior Lit Chat with Andrea Davis Pinkney, Friday, June 16, from 4:30-5 p.m. live at the Brentwood Library. Intended for kids, ages 5-12. The first 50 kids in attendance will get a FREE copy of A Poem for Peter to take home. A reception and book signing will follow.

Jax Book Fest is back and better than ever! Join us for not one but two bold, bookish days - back-to-back this September 22-23 at the Main Library! This year, we're adding a WRITER'S DAY on Friday with FREE workshops on writing and self-publishing, networking opportunities with local writer's groups and so much more! Plus, we've got an awesome lineup of bestselling and local authors on Saturday for the MAIN EVENT!