The State Library of Ohio and the Ohioana Library Association, with the Ohio Center for the Book and the Choose to Read Ohio Advisory Council, are pleased to announce the 2023 & 2024 Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) booklist.
 
CTRO supports libraries, schools, families, book clubs, and others in building communities of readers and an appreciation of Ohio authors, illustrators, and literature. CTRO spotlights books by exciting, talented creators who write across genres, explore a wide array of topics, and appeal to all age groups.
 
Each biennial CTRO booklist features 20 representative titles for all ages by creators born in, residing in, or associated with Ohio. The titles are selected by Ohio teachers, librarians, and others who champion readers and reading.
 
CTRO booklists follow a two-calendar-year program cycle, but readers are encouraged to read and share any current or past CTRO book at any time. Each CTRO book features a free downloadable readers’ toolkit. The toolkits are packed with ideas and resources, including an author biography, discussion questions, activities, and links for further exploration of the book’s themes. Toolkits for all CTRO titles through the 2021 & 2022 booklist (135 books in all!) are available at library.ohio.gov/ctro. Toolkits for the 2023 & 2024 titles will be published starting in fall 2022.
 
Previous CTRO booklists have spotlighted titles by Ohio authors and illustrators including Jacqueline Woodson, Toni Morrison, Jasmine Warga, Wil Haygood, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Drew Daywalt, Louise Borden, Denise Fleming, Hanif Abdurraqib, Angela Johnson, Paula McLain, J. Patrick Lewis, Oge Mora, Daniel Kirk, Dav Pilkey, Katrina Kittle, and many others.
 
The 2023 & 2024 CTRO booklist was developed by an advisory council representing schools, libraries, and literary organizations, with input from 74 Ohio teachers, librarians, and other book lovers who served as CTRO electors. 
 
CTRO is a project of the State Library of Ohio and the Ohioana Library Association, in collaboration with the Ohio Center for the Book and Ohio’s libraries.

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The Dollar General Literacy Foundation invites applications for its Youth Literacy Grants program. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to support efforts to help students who are reading below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading.
 
The program supports the implementation or expansion of new or existing literacy programs, the purchase of new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives, and/or the purchase of books, materials, or software for literacy programs. The deadline to apply is Thursday, May 19.
 
For complete program guidelines, a list of 2021 grant recipients, and application instructions:
www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs/#youth-literacy-grants​

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INFOhio's Beach Bingo Challenge flyer provides fun activities for students in grades K-6 to complete using INFOhio's quality digital resources and web tools. This flyer is a complement to your summer library program, promoting reading and learning about ocean and beach topics.
 
INFOhio is excited to provide printed copies of this flyer at no cost for your library's summer program. To order your copies, please complete this form by May 13, 2022. Flyers will be shipped to your library and should arrive by the first week of June.
 
You may also download and print copies of the flyer here:
https://infohio.org/document-library/item/infohio-beach-bingo-challenge
(select “View/Download”)
 
If you have any questions, contact INFOhio at support.infohio.org. Thank you!

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