Parent/Caregiver FAQs
As a parent or caregiver, you are your child’s first and best teacher. You should feel empowered to set parameters that are right for your family, and there are a number of ways the library can help. Our Guide for Parents and Caregivers outlines tips for navigating our collection, setting up library accounts, and more!
The West Ada School District provides access to Overdrive using the Sora app for schools. To access Meridian Library District’s Overdrive materials, just add our library within the Sora app! Your school credentials will allow you to check out materials from our collection.
School accounts through Sora limit access to materials by grade levels. You will need to download the Libby app separately and log in with your Meridian Library card to access our complete collection.
Tune Into A Good Book
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The Mystwick School of Musicraft
Humor and heart shine in this middle grade fantasy about a girl who attends a boarding school to learn how to use music to create magic, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil series.
Amelia Jones always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world's most promising musicians learn to create magic. So when Amelia botches her audition, she thinks her dream has met an abrupt and humiliating end--until the school agrees to give her a trial period. Amelia is determined to prove herself, vowing to do whatever it takes to become the perfect musician. Even if it means pretending to be someone she isn't. Meanwhile, a mysterious storm is brewing that no one, not even the maestros at Mystwick, is prepared to contain. Can Amelia find the courage to be true to herself in time to save her beloved school from certain destruction? -
Ukulele Hayley
Hayley has finally found her talent: playing ukelele like her great-aunt Ruby, who traveled all over with her band, the Ragtime Rascals. She's so enthusiastic that she gets a ukelele band started at school with the new music teacher. Just as the band is getting popular, horrible new comes: the music program and the teacher are being cut. Hayley has a bold idea to help ensure that the school board members change their mind. If only it works....
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Drop the Beat! (DreamWorks Trolls)
Trolls--the most magical creatures with the wildest hair--celebrate making music in this leveled reader that's perfect for young DreamWorks Trolls fans.
From the makers of Shrek, DreamWorks Trolls is the hair-raising comedy filled with unbelievable adventure, incredible music, and Trolls, the joyous creatures with crazy, colorful, magical hair! Boy and girls ages 4 to 6 will love learning to read with Trolls DJ Suki and Biggie who have a jamming good time making music with Poppy, Branch, and all their Troll friends. -
The Bard and the Beast
Prince Lucas discovers that sometimes music is the only way to defeat a savage beast in this newest adventure from the fantastical Kingdom of Wrenly series.
Prince Lucas does not want to learn to play the lute. He would much rather be outside exploring with his best friend Clara. When a traveling bard pays a visit to the castle, he tries to convince the young prince that there is magic in music, but Lucas isn’t falling for it. And when the two go for a walk in the hills and stumble upon a ferocious monster, Lucas learns that the bard might just be telling the truth after all.
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Kingdom of Wrenly chapter books are perfect for beginning readers. -
Mr. Putter & Tabby Toot the Horn
Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, like sharing music with their neighbors Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke. But when Mrs. Teaberry decides they should join a band, Mr. Putter isn’t so sure. He doesn’t even play an instrument--in fact, neither does Mrs. Teaberry. But they aren’t going to let that stop them!
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Little Rat Makes Music
Little Rat can't wait to make music like the violinists she sees at concerts in the city. But her biggest obstacle is practicing. It's boring. It's hard. And her violin squawks a lot. Luckily, Little Rat's teacher believes she has talent. And her new tutor agrees. With their encouragement--and some fine-tuning--Little Rat hits all kinds of high notes. But most important, she discovers where beautiful music really comes from.
In this third book of Little Rat's celebrated tales of triumph, Monika Bang-Campbell and Molly Bang prove that with a bit of pluck, patience, and practice, anything is possible.
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Orchestra
Perfect for quarantine reading with your children!
Before there were DJs, rock stars, pop groups, and jazz trios, there was the orchestra. Whether it takes center stage or brings performances and movies to life, the orchestra is the magnificent original voice of the western world.
Learn about all of the ingenious instruments that make up the orchestra and the luminary composers whose work has endured for centuries. Travel from the stunning Wiener Musikverein in Vienna to the world's greatest recording studios, all illuminated by David Doran's stylish and immersive artwork.
A beautifully illustrated coffee table guide to everything you could ever want to know about the orchestra. -
Twinkle Makes Music
The feisty fairy Twinkle makes music in this sixth Level 2 Ready-to-Read story about everyone’s favorite fairy from the acclaimed author of the beloved Angelina Ballerina series!
Fairy Godmother is throwing a party and she wants the students at The Fairy School of Magic and Music to play a song for all the guests. Twinkle, Pippa, and Lulu will each play the flute. But no matter how much she practices, Twinkle just can’t seem to play a note. Is there another way for Twinkle to make music? -
Behind-the-Scenes Music Careers
Fascinating facts, fun pictures, and first-person accounts highlight informative text about some of the most interesting jobs that take place behind the scenes in the music industry. Readers will get a glimpse at what it takes to make it as a songwriter, producer, manager, and more and find out what goes on behind the glamour.
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The Order of Things
A heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss.
Eleven-year-old April Jackson loves playing the drums, almost as much as she loves her best friend, Zee, a violin prodigy. They both dream of becoming professional musicians one day. When Zee starts attending a new school that will nurture his talent, April decides it’s time for her to pursue her dreams, too, and finally take drum lessons. She knows she isn’t very good to start, but with Zee’s support, she also knows someday she can be just as good as her hero, Sheila E., and travel all around the world with a pair of drumsticks in her hand.
When the unthinkable happens and Zee suddenly passes away, April is crushed by grief. Without Zee, nothing is the way it’s supposed to be. Zee's Dad isn't delivering the mail for his postal route like he should. April's Mom is suddenly dating someone new who is occupying too much space in their lives. And every time April tries to play the drums, all she can think about is Zee.
April isn't sure how to move on from the awful feeling of being without Zee. Desperate to help Papa Zee, she decides to secretly deliver the mail he’s been neglecting. But when on her route she discovers a classmate in trouble, she doesn’t second guess what she knows is the right thing to do. -
All Summer Long
*A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018!*
All Summer Long, a coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel about summer and friendships, written and illustrated by the Eisner Award–winning and New York Times–bestselling Hope Larson.
Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story. -
A Mouse Called Wolf
Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse ("Wolf," for short) has a big name for such a little mouse. But the name fits. His favorite pastime is listening to Mrs. Honeybee, the lady of the house, play the piano. If only he could sing along to the music! One day, Wolf decides to try -- and to his surprise, out of his mouth comes a perfect melody.
It's not long before Wolf is singing everything from "Three Blind Mice" to Chopin to the Beatles, all to Mrs. Honeybee's accompaniment. Then an accident leaves Mrs. Honeybee in danger, and it's up to Wolf to save her... the only way he knows how. -
The Midnight Orchestra
In this spellbinding and "well-orchestrated"* sequel to The Mystwick School of Musicraft, Amelia must master the magic of Composing to help her school win a magic competition--and save her friends from a mysterious evil.
Things are finally looking up for Amelia Jones: she's officially a Mystwick student, and she even has a teacher to help her learn how to use her rare Composing magic. When Mystwick enters an international magic competition, it's Amelia's chance to Compose something that will help them win the day.
The only problem is that she still doesn't understand how her powers work. But then she hears about a super exclusive Midnight Orchestra--half performance, half magical black market--and Amelia is sure that's where she'll find the answer to her Composing problem.
But the Midnight Orchestra is far more sinister than it initially appears and if Amelia can't unlock her Composing powers, not only will Mystwick lose the musicraft competition, she won't be able to rescue her friends from the danger unleashed in this thrilling adventure.
*Kirkus
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Miracle in Music City
In this third title in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls series by Natalie Grant, Miracle in Music City, the Glimmer Girls are at it again--looking for a mystery to solve. Gloria wants her daughters to learn they aren't too young to make a difference, so she gets them involved in her annual benefit and auction. But as things often do with the trio of smart and sassy sisters, they get themselves and their nanny Miss Julia involved in a lot more than just helping mom raise money for a worthy and wonderful cause.
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Red, White, and Whole
Newbery Honor Book! A heartbreakingly hopeful novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.
* Walter Award Winner * New England Book Award Winner * An NCTE Notable Verse Novel * Golden Kite Award Winner * Crystal Kite Award Winner * Goodreads Choice Nominee * A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year * An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A BookPage Best Book of the Year * An NYPL Best Book of the Year * A Mighty Girl's Best Book of the Year * An ILA Notable Book for a Global Society * A Bank Street Best Book of the Year *Junior Library Guild Selection * A Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor *
Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she's the only Indian American student, and home, with her family's traditions and holidays. But Reha's parents don't understand why she's conflicted--they only notice when Reha doesn't meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma. Although their names are linked--Reha means "star" and Punam means "moon"--they are a universe apart.
Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick.
Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can't stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She'll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma's life.
From Indies Introduce author Rajani LaRocca comes a radiant story about the ties that bind and how to go on in the face of unthinkable loss. This is the perfect next read for fans of Jasmine Warga and Thanhhà Lại.
Beach Reads for Kids
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Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book #7: Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail
In the seventh chapter book in the New York Times bestselling series, Amelia Bedelia comes out of her shell and heads to the beach!
Amelia Bedelia and her mother share a summer vacation home at the shore with her aunt Mary (her mother's sister) and her cousin Jason, who has a wicked sense of adventure and a nose for trouble. With a local girl named Pearl as guide, the cousins build sand castles, swim and body surf, and learn how to sail. As much fun as their nautical adventures are, the lives of this trio get way more exciting when they stumble upon pirates! The Amelia Bedelia chapter books star Amelia Bedelia as a young girl and feature funny family and friendship stories just right for fans of Judy Moody and Ivy + Bean. The Amelia Bedelia books have sold more than 35 million copies since we first met the iconic character in 1963!
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Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic
It's 1925. Thanks to Prohibition, bootleg liquor is big business, and organized crime is thriving.As summer vacation begins, 12-year-old Emily Scott witnesses a gangland attack on her landlord, who runs a grocery downstairs from her family's Philadelphia flat. Emily is badly frightened by the violence and the thugs' warnings to keep quiet about it. So she jumps at the chance to accompany her sister Dorothy to the Jersey shore, where they'll be guests of Dorothy's wealthy college friend, Bitsy. The Grand Atlantic Hotel proves to be fabulously luxurious -- right on the ocean and full of fascinating characters, from Madame Serena the sceance leader to costumed mah jongg players and flappers dancing the Charleston. But Emily isn't entirely happy. Dorothy is much more interested in impressing her rich friends, going yachting, and winning dance marathons than spending time with her gawky little sister. Even worse, Emily spots a sinister man who looks exactly like Mr. M, the mob leader from Philly. Emily has heard of gangsters wiping out witnesses -- what if the man really is Mr. M and recognizes her? With her new friend Gwen, who's a pet-sitter at the hotel and a polio victim who relies on crutches and a wheelchair, Emily sets about finding out whether the mysterious man is really Mr. M. Dorothy just laughs at Emily's fears, but it turns out that Emily is right -- and that Mr. M is in Ocean View to carry out a rum-running scheme that means terrible danger for someone near and dear to Dorothy!
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Nicole the Beach Fairy
The fairies are going green!
The fairy king and queen have just put together a new team of seven fairies for a very special mission. They are the Earth Fairies! Together, they're going to work their magic to clean up the environment. But they can't do it alone. Luckily, Rachel and Kirsty are ready to help!
The beach on Rainspell Island is covered with garbage, and it's putting the sea creatures in danger. But Nicole the Beach Fairy can't do much without her missing magic wand. Can the girls help her track it down?
Find the missing magic wand in each book and help save the environment! -
Liberty
Welcome to the Puppy Place - where every puppy finds a home!
Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.
Lizzie and her family go to the beach for a July 4th weekend trip. Liberty, a golden retriever puppy, gets spooked by the fireworks display and loses her owners. Can the Petersons find her home, even while they are on vacation?
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Hello Kitty
The Hello Kitty brand touches every part of a girl's life with on-trend product, and touches every part of popular culture--from fashion to celebrity to art. It is a true lifestyle brand. VIZ Media's wordless comic series is the first of its kind.
Hello Kitty and her friends are off on adventures near and far!
Surprise! Hello Kitty and her friends are in for lots of unexpected treats!
Reads L to R (Western Style) for all ages. -
High and Dry
★ "Walters has woven a touching story about the connection humans have with other living beings on Earth. Recommended for wide purchase."--School Library Journal, starred review
Dylan lives on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest with his parents, but when they have to go to the mainland, his grandfather weathers a storm to come spend time with him. Grandpa's brought Dylan a number of gifts, and one comes in handy the next day while they are exploring the coast. In fact, this gift leads the duo to a dangerous discovery: a young orca got stuck on the rocks during the storm. Racing against the sun and the heat, Dylan and Grandpa need to work together to figure out how to save the calf while his pod circles nearby.
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Stella Díaz Never Gives Up
From award-winning author Angela Dominguez comes the novel Stella Diaz Never Gives Up, a story about a shy Mexican-American girl who becomes an environmental activist and makes a difference in her community.
Stella gets a big surprise when her mom plans a trip to visit their family in Mexico! Stella loves marine animals, and she can't wait to see the ocean for the first time . . . until she arrives and learns that the sea and its life forms are in danger due to pollution.
Stella wants to save the ocean, but she knows she can't do it alone. It's going to take a lot of work and help from old and new friends to make a difference, but Stella Díaz never gives up!
This is the second middle-grade novel from award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez. Based on the author's experiences growing up Mexican-American, this infectiously charming character comes to life through relatable story-telling including simple Spanish vocabulary and adorable black-and-white art throughout.
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2020 for Younger Readers -
Whale Done
In the eighth novel in New York Times bestselling Stuart Gibbs’s FunJungle series, Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle’s resident sleuth to find the culprits behind a blown-up whale and a string of beach sand thefts.
After an escaped kangaroo starts a fire that burns down his house, Teddy Fitzroy accepts an invitation to go to Malibu with his girlfriend, Summer, and her mother, Kandace. He’s hoping to spend some time relaxing on the beach, but wherever Teddy goes, trouble isn’t far behind.
First, a massive dead whale has washed up on the beach—and before anyone can determine what killed it, it explodes. Doc, the head vet from FunJungle, suspects something fishy is going on and ropes Teddy and Summer into helping him investigate.
Then, Teddy stumbles upon yet another mystery involving tons of stolen sand. And the paparazzi start spreading rumors about Summer dating a celebrity, leading Teddy to question their relationship.
Without Summer as his trusted partner, can Teddy navigate the rough waters of this glitzy world and uncover what’s going on? -
Saltwater Secrets
From the acclaimed author of Just Add Magic—now a hit streaming original series—comes a story of two sisters, one summer vacation, and one big mystery for them to solve.
Stella and Josie live for their summers at the boardwalk—each one a carbon copy of the last. Josie lives in Australia most of the year; her half-sister, Stella, lives in New Jersey. But every year, they come together for a beach vacation with their dad, and to make more memories. The real excitement for them is their secret special place under the boardwalk, where they hide their sister scrapbook, adding memories from each summer.
But this summer feels different. Josie isn’t the same—she’s turned into one of the popular girls that Stella can’t stand. Despite the rocky start to their vacation, they still go to their secret, special place under the boardwalk, adding memories to their sister scrapbook once again.
That is, until their place is discovered by the owners of the newest store—the Smoothie Factory, which replaced Josie’s favorite sweet spot. Not only have the owners of the Smoothie Factory discovered the cove, they are exploiting the natural habitat, and endangering marine life and everyone at the beach! It’s up to Josie and Stella to figure out how to stop their beloved boardwalk from disappearing for good. -
Black Sand Beach 1: Are You Afraid of the Light?
This summer vacation is anything but a dream trip. The first book in a spooky, witty new graphic novel series from bestselling Blastosaurus creator Richard Fairgray, perfect for fans of Gravity Falls, Rickety Stitch, and Fake Blood.
Twelve-year-old Dash and his best friend Lily are spending the summer at Black Sand Beach, where Dash's family has a house. Lily can't understand why Dash isn't more excited. Three months of surf, sand, and sun. It should be a dream!
But Black Sand Beach is not that kind of vacation spot.
The house is a shack, and all of Dash's weird relatives are there. More alarming is the zombie ram that crashes through the front yard and the eerie voices calling out to Dash from the lighthouse--a lighthouse that hasn't been operational in a hundred years. . . .
So Dash has a new plan for his summer vacation. . . . Survive.
Full of unexpected twists, Are You Afraid of the Light? begins a delightfully creepy graphic novel series that readers will devour. (But keep a flashlight handy.) -
Mystery in the Sand
The Aldens are spending sunny days at the shore and summer nights in a mobile home right on the beach! One morning, Benny finds a gold necklace in the sand. Soon a search for its owner begins, and a trail of clues leads the children to Tower House. What will the Boxcar Children find in the strange old mansion?
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Eva at the Beach: a Branches Book (Owl Diaries #14)
It's summertime and Eva Wingdale is going to the beach, in this New York Times bestselling early chapter book series just-right for emerging readers!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
Eva is visiting the beach with her best friend Lucy! They can't wait to build sandcastles and make seashell necklaces. But Eva is secretly afraid to go swimming because of the big fish -- like sharks! -- that live in the sea. After Eva hears the "Legend of the Mermowls" and spots her classmate Sue in the water, the sea doesn't seem so scary. Will Eva face her fears and maybe find some magic at the beach, too?
Rebecca Elliott's sweet text and full-color artwork on every page bring this story to life for young readers!
Continue this book series with "Eva the Owlet," an Apple TV+ original series!
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Sea Turtle
Dive into this colorful title featuring one of the biggest animals on earth! This title gives kids a chance to learn all about Sea Turtles, like where they live, how big they are next to a human, their body characteristics, family life and more. Kids will love the engaging color photographs, simple text, and fun facts about these larger than life beings. A quick quiz is provided for additional reading and learning fun! Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Sandcastle is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
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Babymouse #3: Beach Babe
Meet Babymouse--the spunky mouse beloved by young readers for more than a decade! It’s summer time and Babymouse is going to the beach to surf and relax. But will sharks ruin her vacation? This groundbreaking young graphic novel series, full of humor and fun, is a bestseller that’s sold more than three million copies!
"Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!"—The Chicago Sun-Times
Grab your sunglasses! School’s out and Babymouse is headed to the beach for a week of sun, sand, surfing, snorkeling, and sharks! That’s right, folks . . . sharks! Looks like Babymouse’s summer fun isn’t shaping up quite the way she expected! Will Babymouse survive her summer vacation? Will she be the surfing star she dreams of being . . . or is she sharkbait?! Find out in Beach Babe—the 3rd hilarious, action-packed installment of the beloved Babymouse graphic novel series!
DON'T MISS The BIG Adventures of Babymouse: Once Upon a Messy Whisker, the newest, brightest, and BIGGER THAN EVER graphic novel from BABYMOUSE! -
Go Girl! #8: Surf's Up!
Kowabunga! Lucy can't wait to go on vacation with her BFF, Bonnie, and her family. They're going to stay by the beach, take surf lessons, and eat tons of junk food! But the trip takes a nosedive as soon as they hit the waves. Bonnie is a natural, while Lucy keeps wiping out. Lucy doesn't want to feel jealous, but she can't help wondering...will they still be friends when this vacation is over?
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