Sometimes Endings Aren’t Happy

And they all lived happily ever after. Everyone loves a story that ends that way. But what about the stories that don’t? Can we love a story that doesn’t have a happy ending?

Yes, we can. We should at least try. Books can provide a wonderful means of escape, but we shouldn’t live on a steady diet of that type of reading. We need books for escape, but also to challenge us or to get us to face reality. Some of the stories that do that the best are those without happy endings. One such story is Emil Sher’s YA novel Young Man with Camera.

The reality of bullying is a big part of Young Man with Camera.

I want you (yes, you!) to read Young Man with Camera, so I’ll try to not give away too much. It gives a very realistic picture of the worst kinds of bullying. The protagonist is drowning in circumstances not of his making, but doesn’t grab the life preserver in front of him. As an adult long removed from situations like those in the story (and thankfully never involved in anything as intense), I wanted him to react like an adult. But he’s an adolescent and reacts like one. Mr. Sher’s characters are complex, just like real kids. And just like real kids, they don’t always make the best decisions. But the decisions they make can sometimes be explained by their life experience and what they’re dealing with.

I don’t want to give the impression that the ending is one of hopelessness and despair. While giving a more realistic picture of bullying than most adults are probably comfortable with, it allows its intended audience to see a glimmer of hope at the very end of the book. And when I say see, I mean it literally. The story is told in both powerful words and photographs. I encourage you to read a Q and A with Mr. Sher by children’s publishing powerhouse Scholastic, Inc.

It’s a heartbreaking story, and that’s okay.

The closest thing I can remember reading in my youth with a similar ending is S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. I’ve expounded before on my fascination with that book. The class/clique conflict grabbed my 13-year-old heart and wouldn’t let go. It’s the first book I can remember reading where characters who came close to being like kids in my school and my neighborhood didn’t get a happily-ever-after ending. I was in tears by the time Johnny said, “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.” It was perfect. I’d read Romeo and Juliet and other tragedies in Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare, but those settings and characters were so far removed from my late-1970s life as to not have nearly the impact of Cherry and Dally (not a perfect analogy, but you get it if you read it).

Not-happy-endings aren’t confined to YA novels, nor should they be. I don’t suggest you sit little ones down in front of cable news so they can see what the world is like. But it’s not a bad thing if they get a little peek of reality now and then through story books. That’s especially true when a loving, trusted adult is there to help them work through what they read or hear in the book. These books don’t usually just plop down a sad ending and leave it there. Rather, they give their little readers a picture (literally and/or figuratively) of some of life’s disappointments, often with coping tools built in to the story.

Children can benefit from realism in storybooks.

An excellent book for this is Suzanne Collins’ (yes, she of Hunger Games brilliance) The Year of the Jungle. It’s a poignant autobiographical story about life for little Suzy while Daddy is in Vietnam during the war. Through brilliant storytelling and illustrations, you get a sense of the concern and confusion that fills the heart and mind of a child in this situation, including when Daddy returns home but is not quite the same. I’ve shared this story with my second-graders for the past couple of years. We have a lot of military families at school so I was interested to see how the story would be received by my young audience. Every time I’ve read it, the response has been positive. They ask a lot of questions and make insightful comments.

Don’t be afraid of a character who doesn’t live happily ever after. Go with them on their journey. Share their heartache, get mad, cry – whatever the story moves you to do. If it at least makes you think or at most makes you confront an issue, you’ll be better off for it. You can always comfort yourself with some fun escapism afterward.

Until next time, keep reading!

Author Crush Part 2 – Keeping Your Gidwitz About You

Book Nerd Truth

The only thing better than a long-awaited new book is a long-awaited new book by one of your favorite authors. Adam Gidwitz is the author. The book is Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – So You Want to Be a Jedi? It’s part of a trilogy by three terrific authors (Gidwitz, Alexandra Bracken, and Tom Angleberger). I just finished the book yesterday (yes, I read it out of sequence). I read the book not as a Star Wars fan (I like the original Star Wars trilogy just fine, but I’m not an aficionado), but as an Adam Gidwitz fan. Now I want to read the other two books. The book was that good and the author is that talented.

I was introduced to Gidwitz’s debut novel, A Tale Dark & Grimm, in March 2011 when I read it for a freelance job I had writing teacher’s guides for audiobooks. Over about 18 years, I probably read somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 books for that job. This was one of my all-time favorites. It was as if I’d discovered gold. I told my then-seventh graders about it. They asked me to read it to them, which I did when they were in eighth grade. It was a hit, always in circulation, and had excellent word-of-mouth reviews by middle schoolers. There aren’t a lot of books that enjoy that kind of widespread popularity across that 11-14 age group.

If you aren’t familiar with it, A Tale Dark & Grimm features Hansel and Gretel wending their way through some of the Brothers Grimm lesser-known tales. And Gidwitz tells it like it was, with all the grim gore these stories originally possessed. Jacob and Wilhelm would be pleased. No one in these stories is whistling while they work. This book is gruesome and frightening, which kids kind of like (whether their parents like it or not). But you know what else it is? It’s funny. Something that sets this book (and Gidwitz’s subsequent novels, In a Glass Grimmly and The Grimm Conclusion) apart from scare-me books that kids enjoy is humor. Gidwitz’s narration interjects witty warnings and asides throughout the chapters, just when they’re needed to ease the tension.

Gidwitz has a quality that all children’s book authors need, but not all of them have. He understands kids. He knows what entertains and interests them. He can get them to think about right and wrong without being Mr. GrownUpPreachy. He speaks to them, not at them. He’s a traditional storyteller with a modern-day twist.

Gidwitz, working his story-telling magic on an audience of approximately 100 students.

We were fortunate enough to have Gidwitz visit our students not once, but twice. Both visits were successful beyond my expectations.There aren’t a lot of people who can hold 100 students in grades 5 through 8 in rapt attention for an hour, but he can and did. As part of his second visit, we were able to have 25 students attend an after-school writing workshop with him. It was an amazing opportunity and I still have parents and students asking when we’re going to do it again.

Gidwitz took the time to work one-on-one with our aspiring writers during an after-school writing workshop.

It’s hard to pinpoint the best things to come out of those visits and the popularity of the Tale Dark & Grimm series among our students. The best I can do is narrow it down to two. The new interest in/appreciation for the fairy tale genre and the number of students who expressed an interest in someday being authors were possibly the greatest outcomes. A strictly personal third fantastic outcome was a job for my eldest daughter, but that’s a long story for a different type of blog.

In July 2014 I happened upon this YouTube video from Disney Publishing WorldWide announcing the upcoming Star Wars books. It was great to see Gidwitz included among a cadre of accomplished children’s book authors who would take on the project (note: the slate of authors changed from the time this video was produced). While, as stated earlier, I’m not a Star Wars mega-fan, the original Star Wars trilogy is iconic for my generation. I remember my workaholic dad taking the day off to take all five of us kids (ages 14 to 5) to see the first film, now known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, during the week that it opened. We kids knew it was a big deal. Not only did Dad take a day off, but he was taking us to the movies – he almost never went to the movies – and without Mom along to help him. So I eagerly awaited the publication of this new book. While the Star Wars franchise has many fairy tale elements, I was very interested in how Gidwitz would interpret Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.

My dilemma is do I put them out for the students now or make them wait until I’ve read them? P.S. I love the cover art!

It’s terrific. In this novel, Adam Gidwitz does what he does best. He gets the reader immersed in the story. You are Luke Skywalker. You are training to be a Jedi. You have to save your dearest friends and battle your greatest foe. I thoroughly enjoyed it. What is really unique, really gives it an inimitable twist, are the 24 Jedi lessons interspersed throughout the book. As I read each one, I thought how much fun they would be as class activities and how much excitement they would add to the read aloud experience. Now I really want Gidwitz to come back to our school and teach our students how to be Jedi.

Until next time, keep reading!

The Good Fight: 8 Ways to Get Middle Schoolers to Read

Middle schoolers. I love them. They can be a jumble of hormones, feelings, doubts, defiance, humor, ambivalence, aloofness, and questions. Little by little they’re leaving behind childhood for the teenage years. The late Sister Helene Fee, IHM, was principal of our school for many years and encountered more than her share of middle schoolers. She used to hand out to their parents a wonderful little essay called “The Cat Years” during the back-to-school meeting in August. It sums up what those parents were about to experience.

I see a version of “The Cat Years” in our library. Students who couldn’t wait to check out a book from pre-kindergarten all the way through fifth grade now come to the library and look at me like I’m insane when I suggest they use silent reading time for silent reading.

You want us to read? In the library?

I’m not talking about children who have learning differences that make reading difficult. That’s a much more complex topic. I’m talking about those who read with little or no difficulty but who have lost their interest in reading. For parents and teachers, getting those 11- to 14-year-olds to read can be a battle, but it’s a battle worth fighting. It doesn’t have to be all-out war.  Here’s what we can do to give ourselves an edge in the battle.

1. Take away the no-time excuse. This one is probably the most prevalent and yet the easiest to fix. Everyone has 20 minutes to read most days of the week. If a middle schooler can’t eke out that kind of time, perhaps parent and child need to sit down and see where their time is being spent and what can be juggled or cut out.
2. Eliminate distractions. Most people (myself included) have nearly uninterrupted access to electronic distractions. We can watch TV pretty much anywhere at any time. That goes for playing video games and browsing social media. If this is the culprit robbing your child of reading time and attention, consider placing limits. You might be the bad guy temporarily, but it’s for a good cause.
3. Provide access to reading material. You needn’t break the bank buying books. Public and school libraries can be your best friend. Make a date to browse the stacks for favorite topics, genres, and authors. Too busy to browse? Let your child spend a little time at home on your public library’s online catalog and make a list of titles, authors, and call numbers so you can get in and out quickly. Or, check a list of recommended titles like those you can find on Goodreads.com.
4. Give the adolescent people what they want. I seldom ask students of this age “What do you like to read?” The answer will often be a stonewalling “Nothing.” Instead, I ask them about hobbies and interests, likes and dislikes. With that information and a catalog search, we usually find a winner. Once you have that, pile on.

   

   A great series can be the answer for middle-school readers.

   If they like graphic novels, find as many as you can. Sports? Mike Lupica might become their go-to author. Video gamers might like a fiction series with dystopian themes like The Giver, The Hunger Games, Legend, Fever Crumb, or Shadow Children.

5. Make reading socially acceptable. Lots of kids this age don’t want to be seen as uncool and sometimes (to my amazement) reading gets tagged as uncool. It doesn’t have to be that way. Try adding a social aspect to make reading more appealing. Get together with other middle-schoolers and their parents for occasional book swaps, or start a book club. It can be as infrequently as monthly or quarterly. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are tried-and-true ways to make this happen.
6. Share the books you loved at that age. I am thrilled beyond words that our three copies of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders have been in almost constant circulation since last spring. I told some sixth-graders that when I was in junior high (the prehistoric version of middle school), I holed up in my bedroom and read that book in one day, and then cried my seventh-grade eyes out. That got the ball rolling. Now it’s making the round with eighth-graders. I’m trying to get them to read Betsy Byars’ The Summer of the Swans, but the dated cover makes it a harder sell.
7. Read together. Try to find the lovable puppy hiding beneath the surface of that aloof cat. I know this is something I beat into the ground. It’s been in past posts, and will be in future ones. Believe it or not, they want to be read to. I have proof.

   

   Your middle-school child might just be okay with being read to. These seventh-graders are.

   For a back-to-library assignment, one of the things I asked my seventh- and eighth-graders to do was to write what they would like us to do during library time this year. I was pleasantly surprised that many students said they wanted me to read to them.

8. Communicate and investigate. Talk to teachers, librarians, and other parents of middle schoolers to see what has worked for them. Investigate blogs and articles. If you’re having this issue, you know many other parents have faced the same problem. Kids continue to read so someone somewhere is having success.

I love a good quote about reading. Even more so when it’s from a great author like Kate DiCamillo who said, “Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty.  It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” And what parent would miss the opportunity to give such a gift?

Until next time, keep reading!

Love Your School Library

That new book smell is everywhere. The posters are up. The books are on display. Student library accounts have been added or updated. Lesson plans are (almost) finished. Getting ready for a new year in the school library is akin to getting ready for Christmas, and the night before school begins is a sort of Christmas Eve, full of preparation and anticipation.

The story corner is waiting for children like a decked-out Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

Harold Howe II (1918-2002), author and former U.S. Commissioner of Education, said “What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education.” Even if your livelihood doesn’t depend on the existence of a school library as mine does, I think many of you can agree with Mr. Howe.

But the sad fact is not all schools have libraries. Those that do are fortunate, especially if students, like at our school, have library as a weekly class, and can also make a quick trip when it’s not their designated day to take out or return books.

Every level of school represents a student population with a wide range of interests and abilities to work with. Ultimately, the goal is to make each student’s library time meaningful. But that requires collaboration. Students, families, teachers, and staff all have a part to play. At the beginning of each school year, librarians have the opportunity to let the students know what their role is in that partnership. Hopefully, students get the opportunity to voice their expectations, as well. So I’m putting on my cat-eye glasses and going total librarian to give you some idea of what the home piece of this puzzle is. In the interest of full disclosure, I really do have cat-eye glasses. So trendy.

1. Read, read, read. This is the most important item on the list. Children who see their role models reading are more likely to read on their own. As a parent or guardian, or just someone loved by an impressionable little human, you’re automatically a role model. Books, magazines, newspapers –hardcopy or electronic – all count. And whether or not you read for yourself, at the very least, read to and with your children. No matter what.

   

   The great family tradition of story time, circa 1975. My parents and little brothers enjoying the great Richard Scarry.

   You’re tired, busy, stressed, frazzled. Do it anyway. The littlest littles will love having that time with you and remember it fondly when they aren’t little anymore. And when they’re not so little, it’s a wonderfully sneaky way to get them to sit down and have time with you. After reading, talk about what they read. Get their opinions and get them to make predictions. It’ll help them comprehend the story better and give you a little more insight into the wonderful people they’re becoming.

2. Participate. Does your school library need volunteers at the circulation desk, with shelving, or during the book fair? Do you have time in your schedule? It may be as much as a couple of hours a week or as little as an hour a year. But you, your child, and your child’s school library will benefit from it.

   

   Volunteer in your school’s library, or just visit.

   This might be the hardest one for most families. Your librarian understands. We have multiple commitments, too. At least don’t be a stranger. Stop by the library during open house or other school events and say hello.

3. Know your due dates. This is important for students and their parents. The younger the student, the more the onus is on the parent/guardian to know due dates. Decide in your household who bears what portion of that responsibility. A good way to keep track of due dates is to note them on a calendar (paper or electronic). Let your children do it, and it’ll make them more part of the process. These days not all libraries stamp due dates in the books. They just give you a receipt (to lose). In our school library, we’re stampers. Old school works for us for some things.
4. Think of overdue notices as gentle reminders. That’s really what they are. Really. I jokingly call them nasty notes, but they aren’t.

   

   Overdue books? It doesn’t have to get ugly.

   Librarians just want to make sure the books are available to others as quickly as possible. Also remember that these notices are often automatically generated, so your child is likely to get one if the due date coincides with a school absence. If it’s a hardcopy given to your child, let him or her know that it’s important to bring it home.

5. Let your librarian know (gently, like an overdue book reminder) if you believe a damage/overdue/lost book notice was received erroneously. We’re human. Mostly. We make mistakes. Especially during book fair.
6. Return damaged books for repairs. People have the best intentions when they try to repair school library books, but it’s not a good idea. Send it back with a note about the damage so it doesn’t accidentally get checked in and shelved in damaged condition. If it can’t be repaired, don’t be surprised to get a bill for the cost to replace the book.

   

   All in a day’s work!

7. Let the librarian replace lost or damaged items. It will probably eventually be on your nickel, but don’t buy a replacement copy of a lost or damaged library item unless you’ve made arrangements with your librarian. Replacing a library-bound edition with a mass market paperback? Nope.

Happy new school year! I hope this list is helpful. Until next time, keep reading!

Summer Love

Most of our new library books, ready to go!

Here it is, the end of summer. While I’ve enjoyed these mostly schedule-free days, I am looking forward to seeing my students again. One of the things I enjoy most about being an elementary/middle school librarian is introducing our students to new books every year. As of this writing, there are 145 brand new, never-before-checked-out books ready to go from shelves and spinners to the hands of (hopefully) eager readers. Of course we still love our old books just as much. As I tell my kids, an old book is new to someone who hasn’t read it yet. But that’s a post for another day. Today it’s about the shiny, new volumes.

Specifically, it’s about what I read this summer. More specifically, it’s about my five favorites. For the purposes of this post, I’m only referencing middle-grade and YA books. We have some awesome new stuff for the younger students, but they’re easier to persuade. My toughest customers are my upstairs kids.

In our school, grades 4 through 8 are in classrooms on the second floor of the building. Something about going up one flight of stairs changes some of my sweet, compliant(ish) primary-grade patrons. Yes, many remain dedicated readers who can’t wait to get downstairs to the library for their next book. However, with each succeeding grade, there are those who may range from picky to aloof to downright disdainful when it comes to reading.

I’ve been at this long enough to know not to take it personally. It’s the natural order of things. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up without a fight. And if I’m going to win any of them over, I have to be prepared.  So I read. And read. And read some more. So far this summer, I’ve read 11 of our new middle-grade/YA books (I have two left in my pile, so we’ll see how that goes). There’s not a single one I didn’t like, but I didn’t love all of them. I loved five of them, roughly 45%. Not bad. So here they are, in no particular order, except for my absolute favorite which I’ve saved for last.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

I wasn’t sure what to expect from El Deafo, a graphic novel memoir, but was intrigued by the title and the cover illustration (yes, I’m a book-cover-judger). My interest was also piqued by the fact that author/illustrator Cece Bell was awarded a prestigious 2015 Newbery Honor by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). This is a big deal. This is the first graphic novel to earn this distinction. Newbery books get a lot of attention and a lot of readers. This honor can only help the format. If you aren’t familiar with graphic novels, you can read more about them in my previous post, “I Was Wrong”.

The Madman of Piney Woods and El Deafo, two of my favorite summer reads.

I read El Deafo in one evening. Yes, graphic novels are generally quick reads, but I couldn’t put it down. Bell tells the story of how, as a small child, she lost her hearing and gained a superhero alter-ego. It’s fantastic. If you’ve been unsure about graphic novels, this one is a great introduction. It’s quirky and relatable at the same time. It shows that differences are nothing to fear, but it’s not heavy handed about it. The illustrations are perfect for the story. Cece and the other characters are portrayed as rabbits. This may sound odd but once you start reading it, you won’t give it a second thought. You’ll be too focused on Cece’s story and themes familiar to anyone who’s ever been a child, like friendship and identity. Bell is deserving of the Newbery honor, as El Deafo really is a “…most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” (“Welcome to the Newbery Medal Home Page!” http://www.ala.org). You can learn more about author/illustrator Cece Bell here.

 The Madman of Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtis

Beautiful words from Christopher Paul Curtis.

I’m a longtime fan of Christopher Paul Curtis. He is a gifted storyteller and a master of historical fiction. What he can do with words is practically magic, as you can see from this picture, which is page 119 of The Madman of Piney Woods. This story is a companion to his 2008 Newbery Honor winner Elijah of Buxton, but you can enjoy Madman without having read Elijah.

Although it’s historical fiction (set in Canada in 1901), themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and prejudice make it something with which many middle-grade readers may identify. Madman’s two protagonists, Benji and Red, tell their stories in alternating chapters. Some young readers don’t like this method of storytelling, but it’s brilliantly done here. Though Benji and Red’s stories intertwine, they each have separate points of view which are best expressed in each boy’s first-person voice. It’s the best way to gain an appreciation for each boy’s different experiences and how they lead them to the same place. It’s a suspenseful story, as well. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the outcome for potential readers, so I’ll just leave you with this plea to read it. Curtis really is a word magician. Here’s a terrific interview with him from earlier this year that gives great insight into the man and the author.

The beautifully-told story of author Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

I love a story written entirely in free verse poetry and authors who convey the beauty of words so naturally that their readers are enveloped by it. And I love a memoir. Brown Girl Dreaming has all of that, and more. In Woodson’s own words, it’s the story of “what it was like to grow up an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and my growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.” (www.jacquelinewoodson.com)

A big part of this story’s appeal is that, although set in the ‘60s and ‘70s, it is relevant to children of the 21^st century. In addition to the societal themes, this story is very much about family, friendship, and realizing one’s gifts. The free verse writing also makes for a quick read, so a middle-grade reader who may be put off by 319 pages need not be. Get to know Jacqueline Woodson here.

.The Dumbest Idea Ever by Jimmy Gownley

The Dumbest Idea Ever! is actually brilliant.

The Dumbest Idea Ever, as it turns out, wasn’t. This is another memoir in graphic novel form (see El Deafo, above). It’s an engaging story about how high school student Jimmy Gownley became graphic-novelist Jimmy Gownley. It’s a great story for kids who dream of a career as an author and/or illustrator, but also for anyone who simply has a future goal that seems unattainable in his or her young mind. Gownley went on to become the author/illustrator of the popular Amelia Rules series and founder of Kids Love Comics, which uses graphic novels to promote literacy.

On a big-picture level, The Dumbest Idea Ever is a realistic look at the transition from middle to high school. Jimmy assumed this was going to be an easy transition but circumstances worked against him. He had to struggle to find his place. The graphic novel format makes it accessible to students of all abilities, and is a great way for readers to make self-to-story connections about goals, disappointments, and perseverance. Gownley doesn’t preach, he just tells (and shows) what he experienced, and what generations of kids have experienced at that time in their lives. It’s a charming story with a bittersweet epilogue that many students will enjoy.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

My favorite book of the summer is about a harmonica. Okay, that’s an oversimplification. But even though I don’t know much about the instrument and have no talent for music, after reading Echo, I wanted to learn to play the harmonica (your ears are safe; I never actually attempted it). It’s practically the protagonist of the story. Practically. Actually, three children from different places and slightly different times and very different circumstances are the protagonists. The harmonica, though, is the tie that binds their stories together. It seems enchanted to the point that it literally and figuratively saves lives.

Ryan’s Echo is part fairy tale, part historical fiction, and completely mesmerizing. It may be a little intimidating for middle-grade readers at 592 pages, but it’s a magnificent story and worth the time and effort. For kids who would scoff at independently reading something this long (and even those who wouldn’t), it is a wonderful family read aloud. It has male and female protagonists. It has adventure, hope, despair, triumph, tragedy, music, magic, and relatable themes. If you can be brought to tears by a beautifully-told story (stop looking at me!), keep a box of tissues handy. Perhaps the biggest draw for me (though it’s hard to choose just one) was that I cared about Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy, the main characters of the three stories-within-the-story. Ryan portrays them in a way that makes them seem like flesh-and-blood people. I wanted things to turn out right for them, for them to no longer experience hurt or loss. I won’t tell you if I got my wish, but I will implore you to read this book so you can find out for yourself. I would also suggest that you consider other works by this award-winning author.

I hope you found something in this personal bibliography that captured your interest. What was your (or your young reader’s) favorite summer read? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, keep reading!

Welcome to Young Readers Resource!

As The Talking Heads’ David Byrne asks in “Once In a Lifetime”,  “…Well, how did I get here?” I’ll tell you how. Books and children. Professionally, they’re my job. I’m about to begin my 15th year as an elementary/middle school librarian. Personally, they’re much more than that. Every time a child in our school library finds a book, an author, a series, or a genre to love it’s like they’ve received a wonderful gift. I love being able to witness that. But I felt like that as a mom before I did as a librarian.

My four siblings and I were raised by parents who were readers. My husband and I are readers. We’ve raised two bright young women who are readers. Good things come from reading. It’s an interesting coincidence that on the day I decided to finally make this blog happen,  our eldest daughter is turning 25 (sharing a birthday with her beloved Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling). I’ll never forget when she read her first book (P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog, Go!), my sister Cara said “Now she can go anywhere.” Reading is essential to so much in life, but a love of reading helps us to really go places, often without leaving home (gentlemen, start your cliché counters). When our younger daughter conquered Robert Lopshire’s Put Me In the Zoo, we were just as thrilled to imagine how the world could open up for her. If you couldn’t tell, we’re big fans of the Dr. Seuss I Can Read It All By Myself beginner books.

In my mind, I’ve been fleshing out this blog for quite a while. Stick with me. I almost have a plan. I’ll share opinions and information (hopefully useful), talk about books, trends in literature, triumphs and tribulations of library life, and whatever else pops into my salt-and-pepper head related to such things. If you have a topic you’d like to see addressed here, let me know. I’m not an expert on anything and I don’t promise that I’ll get to it, but it’s good to get feedback.

Thanks for reading this introductory post. Now, if you don’t mind, I have some summer reading to do. I’m about to start reading Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth so I can give my students an honest opinion of it when school begins at the end of August. They can tell a load of garbage when they hear it, so I have to be authentic. If you want a summary, you can find it here: Scholastic’s summary of Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think. In the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram (ans_library) and Twitter (@ANSLibrary).