Sara Kamppi , the Youth Services Librarian , curated a “ Best Children ’ s Books for the Holidays ,” that is perfect for families to read to their kids for bedtime or to complete the Winter Reading Challenge that will begin sometime in December .
South Georgia Regional Library staff participated in the City of Valdosta ’ s annual Christmas Parade last year . Staff members are excited to decorate and trick out Tillie for local community members to view . Photo submitted by South Georgia Regional Library
“ When kids have breaks like summer break or Christmas break , some of them don ’ t want to think about school or they don ’ t want to learn . I want to address every learning slide whether it ’ s spring break , summer slide or holiday break . I want them to read during their winter break .”
The “ slides ” Kamppi refers to is the loss of academic skills and knowledge over the course of an extended period of time . When students are removed from their study routines within school , they can forget or lose the skills they ’ ve acquired over the course of the year .
The reading challenge will be held for about two weeks on the library ’ s app called Beanstack . Families of local youth should be on the lookout because the Winter Reading Challenge will launch in mid-December .
“ It ’ ll be a little quick reading challenge for about two weeks . Just read as many books or minutes as you can ,” Kamppi said .
The youth services librarian has developed a short list of books children can read in the upcoming season and to help with the reading challenge . The list includes the following :
• Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin
• Grumpy Monkey Oh , No ! Christmas by Suzanne Lang
• The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas ! by Dougie Poynter and Tom Fletcher
• Drum Dream Girl : How One Girl ’ s Courage
Changed Music by Margarita Engle
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• Vegetables in Pajamas by Jared Chapman
• The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
• I Don ’ t Want to Go to Sleep by Devorah Petty
• Everybunny Dream ! by Ellie Sandall
To keep up with more events and challenges , visit www . sgrl . org or follow South Georgia Regional Library on Facebook .
December 2023 | Valdosta Scene 21