Top 25 titles at my school
Another school year is wrapping up!
If you work in an elementary school or are in the children’s department in a public library (or have kids of your own), you might be very familiar with the books on this list. This list reflects the top 25 titles in my elementary school library for the 2021-2022 school year. As our list shows, graphic novels were hot (Raina Telegemeier/BSC and Dav Pilkey could put out a new book every week and kids would still be clamoring for more), and Wimpy Kid and various Minecraft books are still going strong. The number of circulations is listed after the title and call number information.
Our list is probably very different from lists created in states other than Minnesota, as our list is heavy on books nominated for the Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Minnesota’s “read and vote” award for kids), which got lots of circulations (a fact aided by the pizza party kids who read a certain number of these books are able to earn). The titles on this award list included entries 12, 13 17, and 22 on our top 25 list.
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Our library, for our school of about 800 students, had 36,323 books checked out this school year. This includes little guided readers that teachers use for assisting in teaching reading.
What was hot at your school (elementary, middle, or high school) this year? Share your lists in our comments or find me on Twitter @CiteSomething.
Top Title Statistics
- Guts Telgemeier, Raina. 741.5 TEL 178
- Dog Man and Cat Kid Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 167
- Dog Man : Fetch-22 Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 144
- Dog Man : Lord of the Fleas Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 127
- Cat Kid Comic Club Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 123
- Dog Man : Mothering Heights Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 118
- Ghosts Telgemeier, Raina. 741.5 TEL 116
- Dog Man : Grime and Punishment Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 111
- Minecraft Combat Handbook Milton, Stephanie. 793.93 MIL 106
- Minecraft Construction Handbook Needler, Matthew. 793.93 NEE 106
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid : The Deep End Kinney, Jeff. Fiction – FIC S5 KIN 100
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington Marks, Janae. FIC MAR 99
- When Stars are Scattered Jamieson, Victoria. 921 Mohamed 97
- Dog Man : For Whom the Ball Rolls Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 96
- Dog Man : A Tale of Two Kitties Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 93
- Drama Telgemeier, Raina. 741.5 TEL 93
- Max and the Midknights Peirce, Lincoln. FIC PEI 91
- Dog Man : Brawl of the Wild Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 84
- Minecraft Essential Handbook Milton, Stephanie. 793.93 MIL 84
- Minecraft Redstone Handbook Farwell, Nick. 793.93 FAR 84
- The Baby-Sitters Club : Boy-Crazy Stacey Galligan, Gale. 741.5 GAL 81
- Inkling Oppel, Kenneth. FIC OPP 79
- Dog Man Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 78
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid : The Third Wheel Kinney, Jeff. Fiction – FIC S5 KIN 76
- Dog Man Unleashed Pilkey, Dav. 741.5 PIL 76
Filed under: Collection Development
About Amanda MacGregor
Amanda MacGregor works in an elementary library, loves dogs, and can be found on Twitter @CiteSomething.
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Children and young adults should have the right to make choices about their own reading. However, as a librarian, do you have any concerns about the overall lack of literary quality of these books? (This description does not apply to all the books on the list, but when Minecraft titles figure prominently, and even Dog Man, it might be time for a discussion.) Some books are just fun to read, and that’s fine. But surely educators and librarians have a role in encouraging a wider range of books than those listed here. At least, the lists might start a conversation about older books, more challenging ones, and some that might be good complements to these choices. Many of the better books on the list, for example, are the works of authors who have been influenced by earlier generations of children’s books authors. Tradition, continuity, and change are all part of literature. You don’t even need to go back very far; are the original Baby-Sitters Club novels (not graphic) now considered too difficult to read?
Big “yes!” to children making their own choices for reading! Children in our library often select books from our daily in-class recommendations, from reading lists we curate, and from displays featuring a diversity of books. Their library choice books are only one part of their reading lives–they read books in our grade-level book clubs, in class literature circles, and for various reading and enrichment programs throughout the building. Library is some of the only time they get to truly choose something about their day. They’re reading, and while I hope many will learn to challenge themselves more or branch out from what’s popular or familiar as they grow as readers, I’m just thrilled they’ve found something they want to read.
What does S5 designate? Looks like the reading choices are dominated by 3-5? Am I correct? Usually lending policies are more generous with older kids or they have more opportunity for checkout.
S5 just means series #5 in our series section!