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A Guide to Story Time is Reading by 9’s annual bilingual reading guide for parents and educators. It supports young kids as they develop their reading and literacy skills, which are crucial for future academic success.
Leer en Español | Download the 2021 guide | Last year’s guide
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Tips and tricks for our readers
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Book Recommendations
Babies to Kindergarten
By Salina Yoon
A penguin finds a little lost pine cone in the snow and embarks on a journey to send the pine cone back home.
Bloomsbury Publishing
Buy here
By Gabrielle Union
A book about the birth of a child highlights the fireworks of emotions that come with new life.
HarperCollins Publishers
Buy here
By Todd Parr
True to its title, “The Family Book” celebrates different families in different ways.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Buy here
By Nick Bromley, Nicola O’Byrne
An angry crocodile eats his way through this interactive picture book.
Nosy Crow
Buy here
By Elana K. Arnold
In this picture book, which explores creative gender expression, Riley wears clothes that feel right for the occasion, whether it’s a superhero cape to brave a visit to the dentist or a ball gown for an outing with family.
Simon & Schuster
Buy here
By Nikki Grimes
Bath time becomes an adventure at sea — the faucet is a waterfall and a rubber duck is a sea creature.
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
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1st to 2nd grade
By Mac Barnett
Creations from magical yarn by a young girl captivate a community in this modern fairy tale reminiscent of a classic.
HarperCollins Publishers
Buy here
By Lucky Diaz
The story of a main character who walks all around town looking for the Paletero Man until he realizes he has no money to spend.
HarperCollins Publishers
Buy here
By LeUyen Pham
“Outside, Inside” celebrates essential workers and a community as it overcomes the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MacMillan
Buy here
By Michael Mahin
When Carlos Santana would listen to his father play el violín, the world filled with love and healing. It inspires Santana to pick up la guitarra as he attempts to re-create that magical feeling.
Simon and Schuster
Buy here
By Margarita Engle
Teresa’s family flees Venezuela for the United States. She is lonely in an unfamiliar place until her gift for playing the piano leads her to playing at the White House.
Simon & Schuster
Buy here
By Helena Ku Rhee
At night, an office transforms into a whimsical kingdom of paper when a boy accompanies his parents to their cleaning job.
Penguin Random House
Buy here
3rd to 4th Grade
By Ernesto Cisneros
A young boy journeys to reunite with his family after his parents are deported to Mexico.
HarperCollins Publishers
Buy here
By Margaret Dilloway
How a shy 11-year-old evolves into an activist by overcoming her anxiety through improv.
HarperCollins Publishers
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By Arisa White, Laura Atkins, Laura Freeman
Winner of the Nautilus Book Award, this tale looks at slavery, racism and community healing in the United States.
Heyday Books
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By Jessica Kim
An 11-year-old girl lives a double life pursuing her stand-up comedy dreams while taking test-prep classes to appease her mother.
Penguin Random House
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By Pam Muñoz Ryan
A boy uncovers a family secret about an underground network of guardians who protect people fleeing a neighboring country.
Scholastic Inc.
Buy here
By Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee
For Chef Roy Choi, food is a way to explore both the Korean and Los Angeles cultures he knows — that’s why he remixes food just as an artist remixes music.
Readers to Eaters
Buy here
By Shannon Hale
Shannon and Adrienne’s friendship is put to the test as they navigate school and popularity.
MacMillan
Buy here
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Literacy Programs
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Support Services
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Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library
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Los Angeles County Library
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Orange County Public Libraries
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This supplement did not involve the editorial or reporting staff of the Los Angeles Times except where noted.
The guide is free to parents, educators and organizations working with children and families. To contact us with comments and questions or to receive more information, email public.affairs@latimes.com.
Los Angeles Times Public Affairs manages philanthropy, community engagement and corporate social responsibility at the nation’s largest metropolitan daily news organization. We broaden perspectives, empower storytellers and inspire our community to question and transform the world around them. For more information, visit latimes.com/readingby9.
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service — the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services — the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than 6 million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org and diverse programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning.
