Students who read for 600 minutes will earn a completion prize book and other Yeti treasures. Let's make this winter un-brrr-lievably fun with reading!

Track reading time using Beanstack or visit the library to pick up a reading log from the Questions Desk.

For more information, visit our website HERE.

Book Madness

Calling all students, 4th through 8th grade!

Get ready for some friendly competition─ Book Madness is coming back to our library! Just like a sports bracket, books will face off round by round, and students get to vote for their favorites. It's a fun way to boost excitement for reading, spark book talks, and build classroom engagement.

A video explaining the rules and introducing the books will be released on the Library’s YouTube channel “The MPLD” on February 1, 2026.

Brackets will be available on the library’s website and at the Questions Desk starting February 1, 2026. All brackets must be turned in to the Questions Desk by Sunday, February 15, before 4 pm! Brackets turned in after the deadline will not be eligible for prizes.

Students can vote online. A link to vote will be posted on the Library’s website on the first day of each round of voting.

Voting Dates:
Sweet 16: Feb 17 - 23
Elite Eight: Feb 25 - Mar 3
Final Four: Mar 5 - 11
Championship: Mar 13 - 19

The winning book will be announced on Friday, March 20. Winners will be announced by the end of April.

Database of the Month

Interested in eBooks or eAudiobooks? Check out LOTE4Kids! It is a digital collection of picture books that includes more than 65 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. LOTE4Kids also includes various sign language titles, read-alongs, flipbooks, comprehension quizzes, and learning activities!

You can also download the free LOTE4Kids App! It is an easy to use, ad-free, and secure digital library. All you have to do is find your library and enter your library card number.

Check out LOTE4Kids by following the link below:

https://lote4kids.com/us-mchenry-public-library-district/

New and Notable Books

I Don't Wanna Hibernate!
by Anna Ouchchy

In this cozy picture book, it's time to hibernate--but our little groundhog is NOT sleepy. So she tries to stay up all winter and almost misses Groundhog Day! As snow gently blankets the land, the groundhogs prepare for their long, snuggly hibernation. But little Tess is wide awake! Tess's parents try everything to get her to sleep, but she knows every trick in the book. When Mommy and Daddy fall asleep without her, will Tess be able to stay up all winter? Or will she snore her way through Groundhog Day? Join Tess in this wintery bedtime story perfect for readers who are wide awake when the rest of their world is sleepy.

Little Critter: A Snow Day for Dog
by Mercer Mayer

While playing outside in the snow, the wind comes and blows Little Critter's hat away. When Dog tries to get it back, he gets stuck in the snow. Oh no! It's up to Little Critter and Little Sister to help. What will it take to rescue Dog?

Sam Squirrel
by Suzanne Selfors

Willow is house-sitting while her grandmother, Mother Nature, is on vacation, and is left with a long to-do list, including catching the unruly North Wind, which Willow must do with the help of Sam Squirrel and an elk prince.

The Haunting of Bellington Cottage
by Laura Parnum

Twelve-year-old Iris plans to recreate a fun haunted house with her friend Violet during a joint family vacation, but their friendship is tested by family conflict, changing emotions, and a real haunting.

McHenry Public Library

809 Front St.

McHenry, Illinois 60050

815-385-0036