“I’m thinking of starting a blog where I’ll review a new children’s book every day,” I mentioned to a colleague. She kind of chuckled and shook her head, clearly unconvinced that this was possible. Was she right? Why would I…or anyone…want to set myself up to have to read and review a book every day? […]
Category Archives: Reading Lives
May
14
What I Learned from Reviewing a Book Every Day for Three Years by Janet Dawson
posted by CBethM
May
07
The Spirit of Reading by David Rockower
posted by CBethM
My eleven-year-old daughter, Maddie, will occasionally leave a poem, a letter, or note on my pillow, her tiny print scrawled over half-sheets of wrinkled paper. These notes–filled with her wonderings, frustrations, and hopes–are gifts. They give me glimpses into the parts of her life she doesn’t often share through conversation. Last week, she couldn’t wait […]
April
30
A Book Club for Everyone…the Importance of Diversity in Books by Don Vu
posted by CBethM
A few weeks ago, one of my teachers, Jennifer DeBortoli, gave me a copy of a book titled, A Different Pond by Bao Phi. She left it on my desk with a note that just said, “Don- I think you’ll like this book”. She was wrong. I loved this book. A Different Pond is a […]
April
16
Reading Lives: How Queer Lit Helped Me Read Again by Josephine Swaney
posted by CBethM
I am a serial book-starter. The numbers of books I’ve picked up and put down in the past few years pains me. Books that I wanted to read and started up but never found the motivation to continue. Books I’ve had on my reading list for years that I never committed to reading. I’m a […]
April
09
“Dear, Mama”—Remembering & Celebrating Early Family Literacy Practices by Dionna N. Roberts
posted by CBethM
My earliest memories of literacy take me back to the warm musty attic of my family’s small house, on Belvidere Street in Detroit, MI in the early 80’s. My mother transformed this unlikely space into a sanctuary for creativity, stories, and intentional learning. In that tiny intimate space on Saturday mornings, my mother and I […]
March
19
I Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks for a YA National Book Award and Why Libraries Matter by Megan Fink Brevard
posted by CBethM
I was a member of a national book award committee and we read over 54 books in 52 weeks. I can imagine the reaction, why? As a school librarian and a life-long enthusiastic reader, I have loved books since I was a little kid. After working in the publishing field in New York, I found […]
March
12
My Secret Reading Identity by Julia Guthrie
posted by CBethM
I have a confession to make. I have a double reading life. Most of the time, I read middle grade novels. Not only do I consider this part of my job as someone who is entrusted with the reading lives of young people, it’s something I genuinely enjoy (seriously, have you read any kidlit lately? […]
February
26
How I Fell in Love with Storytime by Jennifer Tazerouti
posted by CBethM
Last year, story time was a big challenge for me. Coming from two decades in the middle school arena, it was a new setting with new material and age levels. I stumbled through my own ideas of where the children should sit, whether I should sit or stand, which books were the best choices for […]
February
12
It’s never too late to become a reader! by Angie Moore
posted by CBethM
My husband has never been a reader. It’s not a secret, he will even tell you that himself. He is an incredibly intelligent man, and was, and still is (MBA this year!!) an excellent student, but he never read outside of a classroom. The only thing he remembers about reading as a child was that […]
February
05
Read Alouds: Every Day, Every Student by Lucretia Brattin
posted by CBethM
The importance of reading aloud to every grade level is imperative. And, it should most definitely be an everyday occurrence. This duty does not have be fulfilled by the Language Arts teachers. How awesome is it for the science teacher to read an article from National Geographic or the history teacher to read an article […]
