Library Lady’s K-12 Edition is a mostly weekly newsletter for K-12 school librarians. Today’s topic is — Adventure Through Books.
Library Lady’s K-12 Edition will only be published every other week during the summer. We will be back to our regular schedule in mid-August.
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I am what libraries and librarians have made me. Heraclitus
Tips from Library Lady
Adventure Through Books
One of the things I love most about libraries is that they let us travel farther than we could ever go in a lifetime. A student can visit ancient Egypt during first period, explore the Amazon rainforest before lunch, walk on the Moon after recess, and solve a mystery in Victorian England before the final bell rings.
That’s the magic of reading.
Adventure doesn’t always mean climbing mountains or sailing across oceans. Sometimes the greatest adventures happen when students discover a new idea, meet an unforgettable character, or see the world through someone else’s eyes. Every book offers an invitation to explore—and every library helps students accept that invitation.
Whether your students love fantasy, biographies, mysteries, graphic novels, or nonfiction, there’s an adventure waiting for them on your shelves.
Ways to Bring the Adventure Theme into Your Library
Create an “Adventure Through Books” display. Feature books that transport readers to different countries, historical periods, ecosystems, or even imaginary worlds. Encourage students to choose a destination they’ve never visited before.
Challenge students to read outside their comfort zone. Invite them to try a genre they don’t usually choose. A mystery lover might discover historical fiction, while a fantasy fan may find a fascinating biography.
Start a Reading Passport. Give students a simple passport where they can “stamp” each new reading destination. Categories might include another country, outer space, the ocean, a different historical period, or a fantasy world.
Ask, “Where did your book take you?” Create a bulletin board or wall display where students write the setting of their most recent book. It’s a simple way to spark conversations and inspire new reading choices.
Celebrate real-life explorers. Pair adventure novels with biographies of explorers, scientists, astronauts, aviators, and adventurers. Students often discover that true stories can be just as exciting as fiction.
Highlight adventures of every kind. Adventure isn’t only about action. Feature books about discovering nature, solving problems, making new friends, learning new skills, or overcoming personal challenges. Students will see that adventure comes in many forms.
Adventure Starts with Curiosity
Libraries have always been places of discovery. Every shelf holds an opportunity to travel somewhere new, learn something unexpected, or experience life from a different perspective. By creating opportunities for students to explore beyond their usual reading habits, we help them become not only stronger readers but also more curious, compassionate, and confident learners.
So this month, invite your students to pack their imaginations, open a book, and set off on an unforgettable adventure. After all, the best journeys don’t always require a suitcase—sometimes they simply begin with turning the first page.
July Celebrations
Bulletin Board Ideas: Adventure Through Books
Fourth of July Book List
| Need to raise funds for your library? Here are some posts on my blog that describe my fundraising camps. |
JulyBirthdays
| Date | Person | Why They’re Worth Featuring |
| July 1 | George Sand (1804) | French novelist; discussion of pen names |
| July 2 | Hermann Hesse (1877) | Author of Siddhartha and Steppenwolf |
| July 4 | Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804) | Classic American literature |
| July 6 | Frida Kahlo (1907) | Picture books, biographies, art activities |
| July 7 | Marc Chagall (1887) | Art appreciation and creativity |
| July 8 | Jean de La Fontaine (1621) | Famous fables |
| July 10 | Alice Munro (1931) | Nobel Prize-winning author |
| July 10 | John Calvin (1509) | Historical figure |
| July 11 | E. B. White (1899) | Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan |
| July 12 | Henry David Thoreau (1817) | Nature writing and transcendentalism |
| July 15 | Rembrandt (1606) | Art history |
| July 16 | Beatrix Potter (1866) | Beloved children’s books |
| July 18 | Nelson Mandela (1918) | Biography and leadership |
| July 18 | Richard Branson (1950) | Entrepreneurship |
| July 21 | Ernest Hemingway (1899) | American literature |
| July 22 | Edward Hopper (1882) | Art and visual literacy |
| July 24 | Alexandre Dumas (1802) | The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo |
| July 24 | Amelia Earhart (1897) | Biography, aviation, perseverance |
| July 25 | Thomas Eakins (1844) | American art |
| July 26 | George Bernard Shaw (1856) | Drama and literature |
| July 28 | Beatrix Potter (Death anniversary—1943) | Good remembrance feature if you prefer anniversaries |
| July 31 | Primo Levi (1919) | Memoir and history |
Recent Library Lady Posts
Inspiring Readers with the Life and Legacy of Helen Keller
Recent Adult Book Reviews
Adult Review – Mail-Order Viscountess
Recent YA Book Reviews
YYA Spotlight – Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides
Recent MS Book Reviews
Recent Kid Book Reviews
Kid Review – The Unwinding Path – picture book
Items in my Shop
Cute animals with books – stickers, shirts and more in my Redbubble Shop
What I’m Checking Out
5 Summer Activities Libraries Can Host to Boost Engagement
Examples of Library Summer Learning Programs and Supporting Resources
Some things that might interest you
📚 Tools for School Librarians 📚
As librarians, we’re always looking for creative ways to engage students and enhance programming. These tools are easy to use. Explore them today and see how they might fit into your toolkit.
If you have a little time this summer to learn a new skill and are interested in GPTs, I recommend this “How to Build Your Own GPT” workshop.
Or, if you’d like a GPT to help you create worksheets for your students, I suggest this custom GPT – Imagination Station: New GPTs Create Kids Activity Sheets
Authors and librarians, would you like to have a post on this blog?
I’d like to add a couple of features to my blog in the coming months and would appreciate your help. I am looking for school librarians interested in being interviewed on the blog. I am also looking for librarians and children’s or young adult authors to do guest posts on the blog. Click on the links below to fill out a survey.
Is there a way I can help you? Drop a note in the comments or shoot me an email. I’d love to help.
See you next week.
Jane (Library Lady)
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