Young Readers Guild is a reading program designed to inspire kids 8-14 to talk, read and interact with books and their community.
Young Readers Guild 2025
This year’s Young Readers Guild selection is Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko!
This past fall, four young readers read a selection of books chosen by Pasadena Public Library staff, then voted for their favorite novel to celebrate with activities and an author event. This year’s readers selected Dogtown, a novel about “a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since her owners unwittingly left her with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town. Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home. And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves. When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way” (publisher’s description).
This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 10a.m. – noon at Jefferson Branch Library, located at 1500 E. Villa St. Pasadena, CA 91106. From 10 – 11a.m., enjoy a visit from the Pasadena Humane Society Wiggle Waggle Waggin’ with adoptable dogs, make a no sew blanket, snuffle mat, or puppy craft, or read to a therapy dog team!
Then, at 11.a.m. join us for a live, virtual visit from author Gennifer Choldenko, moderated by this year’s Young Readers Guild participants and followed by a question-and-answer session.
Prior to the author event, you can join us for a community service project in honor of the novel at Jefferson, San Rafael, and Santa Catalina branch libraries. Make a no-sew blanket or snuffle mat that will be later gifted to Pasadena Humane Society. As a thank-you gift for participating, you’ll receive a free copy of Dogtown with a signed bookplate by author Gennifer Choldenko!
Barks & Blankets: A Community Service Project
Monday, May 12 • 1 p.m.
San Rafael Branch Library • 1240 Nithsdale Rd.
Tuesday, May 13 • 4 p.m.
Jefferson Branch Library • 1500 E. Villa St.
Saturday, June 7 • 11 a.m.
Santa Catalina Branch Library • 999 E. Washington Blvd
This community service project will take place during our regular Barks & Books programs where children can read to a gentle, well-trained therapy dog, removing the anxiety they may experience when reading aloud to an adult or their peers. This helps strengthen reading skills and boosts confidence in reading aloud!
If you have any questions about our upcoming events in celebration of Dogtown, please contact Youth Services Librarian, Ashley Olmsted, at aolmsted@cityofpasadena.net.
Our past selections:
Due to Central Library’s temporary closure, we will not be hosting Young Readers League this year. However, we are launching a new young readers program called Young Readers Guild which will give young readers an opportunity to be on a selection committee and plan an author event. If you have any questions, please contact Youth Services Librarian, Ashley Olmsted, at aolmsted@cityofpasadena.net.
Young Readers League ran from 2012-2019. Since 2025, the program has been reimagined to Young Readers Guild. While the format of the programs or selection process are slightly different, the goal and vision of the programs are similar.
2019: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
2018: A Long Pitch Home by Natalie Dias Lorenzi
2017: The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd
2016: Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
2015: Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
2014: El Deafo by Cece Bell
2012: Savvy by Ingrid Law
For more posts about Young Readers League: young readers league tag
For other inquiries, please contact Jane Gov, Library Services Manager, at jgov@cityofpasadena.net