Favorite topics to read about? The animal kingdom is the most popular. Rascal, and the children's versions of Marley & Me and Christian the Lion are
fact-based accounts of human/animal relationships that have made it to the
best seller lists. An engrossing new
book tells the story of Moonbird, a red knot who has migrated 9000 miles a year for a least 17 years. 
Craft , comics and sports books are also
popular both by those who want to read about their favorites or learn the skill. And there must be a lot of you who like the 'strange but true' category or ‘biggest, smallest, oldest, youngest, etc. ' as world record books are always the first to
be snapped up from our summer reading prize cabinet. 
Nonfiction plays a definite role in pleasure reading. Its role in print form as a research tool for
school children seems to be changing. The
Common Core Standards adopted by Illinois stress the importance of reading for content, valuing evidence and critical thinking skills. Students
seem to be turning to digital sources for their reading material. Here in the Children’s Department, requests for assistance in research have declined. Why? Printed material becomes dated. Google searching has resulted in desiring a pinpoint answer to one question, without taking time to delve into material. This type of research involves more independent initial gathering of material. Are students doing the research at home on their own computers? Students have many demands upon their time, so being forced to use reference books within the confines of the library may be too limiting. Recognizing this shift, we have databases to help students from home, such as World Book, Facts on File (great for researching an issue with its pros and cons), Eco Kids and science fair projects. Take some time, browse these with your kids.
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