^Child’s Play (it’s a toy store with a great book section and knowledgeable staff)

The Children’s section of the Barnes and Noble on Rockville Pike was also helpful recently- gave my 6th grader a good stack (some of which MCPL had so I just put them on hold there). Another option is Politics and Prose for ideas from a bookseller (and then go to the library for some of them) or even the book people at the Chevy Chase DC Chip’s Play. There are two women there who are great at recommendations. Again- buy a couple from them and get the rest from the library.

Good luck! (And def see Janet at CC library - in Maryland)

Chevy Chase library has Janet- she is the BEST! She’s found books for my kids at various ages for years. Highly recommend heading there and asking for her

Anonymous wrote:It’s been a few years (pandemic) but we really liked Germantown’s layout and found the librarians there helpful. Also liked Gaithersburg, although a little smaller. Both libraries are relatively new.

+1. Germantown library has been great and is laid out in a way that works for all. Teen section could be a bit improved.

Gaithersburg was okay,

Rockville looked appealing on the outside, but was dreary and not well laid out inside. It did have a greater selection of VOX style books.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it means waiting a few weeks, but the school librarian might be the most helpful. They really are attuned to specific age groups. I volunteered in 2 different school libraries and was amazed at their knowledge and suggestions.

School librarians are great. However, my kid could use an armful of books to get through the last few weeks of summer. I’ve pulled several boos off reading lists most of which have been rejected.

Why have they been rejected? What type of books does your child like?

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/library/resources/files/programs/summer-reading-book-list-grade-3.pdf

Most libraries have a section that list book recommendations by grade level. Also there are monthly and seasonal recommendations that are placed around the library.

MCPL also offers a ask the librarian section on its website that allows you to get recommendations based on prior books read.

Introduce your child to the library catalogue search. They can put in any topic and get lots of options. There’s also dozen of booklist that you can print off and let your kid select from.

If you’re going to head over to Noyes, Kensington Park library is close by and we had good luck there. This was several years ago though.

I would encourage your child to browse and look for things of interest.

Noyes in Kensington is kids books only. You may have better luck there.

Anonymous wrote:I know it means waiting a few weeks, but the school librarian might be the most helpful. They really are attuned to specific age groups. I volunteered in 2 different school libraries and was amazed at their knowledge and suggestions.

School librarians are great. However, my kid could use an armful of books to get through the last few weeks of summer. I’ve pulled several boos off reading lists most of which have been rejected.

My kids are grown now, so I can’t recommend children’s librarians, but if you tell us more about your child’s interests and reading level you might get some good book recommendations from DCUM. Parents often solicit book recommendations in the Elementary School-Aged Kids Forum.

It’s been a few years (pandemic) but we really liked Germantown’s layout and found the librarians there helpful. Also liked Gaithersburg, although a little smaller. Both libraries are relatively new.

I loved the library where I grew up on the south. The kids librarians we're so helpful. Here, I have had not very nice experiences with the kids library, unfortunately (don't get me started about the kid's librarian.at Davis a few years ago, who went bananas that my child was sitting (alone) and reading at the kids' table when I went literally one shelf over for 60 seconds to get another book)...

Op, look at Noyes. This is what they do ( although they're open very limited hours and I personally never been there because of that). It's only a children's library and they're supposed to have very good librarians.

I know it means waiting a few weeks, but the school librarian might be the most helpful. They really are attuned to specific age groups. I volunteered in 2 different school libraries and was amazed at their knowledge and suggestions.

Not MCPS, but Montgomery County. Does anyone have library recommendations where we might find a librarian who knows elementary age books? My 3rd grader needs book recommendations from someone who is not me. Our usual library is Rockville and we haven’t found a librarian with good kids book knowledge.