As you’re planning displays, booklists, and other tools to entice your patrons to check out and read books this summer, keep in mind that Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) spotlights great books for all ages by Ohio authors and illustrators, and offers free readers’ toolkits with activities and discussion questions for every book on the CTRO booklists (which is 155 books so far!).
The toolkits, written by Ohio librarians, are a great resource for book-based programming and book discussion groups. You can also print out copies of the toolkits to slip into your library copies of CTRO books. When your patrons check out a book, they will also get an author bio, discussion questions and extension projects, and links for exploring themes and topics of the book that they can do on their own or with their family or book group.
The current CTRO booklist features Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin, Things Seen from Above by Shelley Pearsall, The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper, Himawari House by Harmony Becker, Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud, and ten other great books for children and teens, plus 5 notable books for adults, all by Ohio authors or illustrators. Also check out previous CTRO booklists for dozens of additional books to enjoy and share. Here’s a list of all 155 books chosen for the CTRO list to date.
CTRO spotlights Ohio authors and illustrators and promotes reading across Ohio. CTRO is a collaboration among the State Library of Ohio, the Ohioana Library, and the Ohio Center for the Book, and is guided by an Advisory Council of librarians, educators, and other advocates for reading and readers.
Learn more and download toolkits here: https://library.ohio.gov/ctro
