Kansas Talking Books has hosted an annual summer reading program for our patrons for more than 10 years. We’re thrilled to continue the tradition and celebrate the values of friendship, kindness, and unity with 2023’s meaningful theme, “All Together Now : Todos Juntos Ahora.”
Most exciting part this year is we’ve always wanted to provide virtual programming for summer reading, and it’s finally becoming a reality with the help of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)! Since October, a committee of talking book and NLS librarians have worked to develop virtual summer reading programs available to talking book patrons nationwide. There will a kickoff virtual event for all ages and a virtual story time with music for children. Also, five virtual author talks with well-known and debut authors for adults, young adults, and children. Author talks will feature:
This list of guests includes New York Times–bestselling authors as well as winners of Amazon’s Best Book of the Year, American Library Association’s (ALA) Best Fiction for Young Adults, the Newberry medal, Pura Belpré Author Honor, and ALA Schneider Family Book Award Young Children's Honor Book. All five of these summer reading program author speakers have multiple books in the NLS collection in audio and braille.
Check our summer reading webpage for dates and times of the NLS virtual events. Let our Kansas Talking Books staff know if you are interested in registering for any of these events by contacting our office at KTB@ks.gov or calling 1-800-362-0699. Registration is required to attend the NLS virtual events. These events will not be recorded.
In addition to these awesome virtual events from NLS, our staff has united to devise themes for weekly book recommendation lists found on our summer reading webpage. We took popular genres and brainstormed different aspects of that genre relating to the values of the “All Together Now” theme. For example, “United Frontiers” features westerns where families and/or communities unite against the story’s villain.
We strive to provide fun accessible activities for all ages and ability so that we “All Together Now” make a brighter, friendlier future. The year’s activities encourage summer reading participants to create or deepen connections with family, friends, and their surrounding communities.
We encourage all Kansas Talking Books patrons to participate in our 2023 summer reading program and enjoy the opportunities for new events and exciting activities. So, let us unite in a love of reading, revel in the joys of friendship, family, and community, and “All Together Now” spread a little kindness this summer and beyond.