A beautiful cat climbed fences and dodged screaming kids to enter the library seven times on a cold February day. Three months later she needed a home – and was pregnant. So we are a cat family now, drawn to all things feline. Around that same time, I found Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky’s book, James’ ReadingContinue reading “Joyful Animal Books”
Category Archives: Children’s Literature
Cancer Awareness
If children’s literature aims to represent all children, picture books about medical challenges need to be available and visible in libraries and bookstores.
Board books
I will be a Grandma soon! It’s time to add to my board book collection! My mom bought me The Sneetches when I was 17 and inscribed it with a message about starting a collection for her future grandchildren. So, when a high school daughter and I were in an art museum gift shop andContinue reading “Board books”
Holiday Celebrations
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Comp titles
Picture books show that there can still be a happily ever after, even when today doesn’t go as planned.
I can’t wait until…
How often do we hear that? “I can’t wait until…” followed by an upcoming event that is going to make everything better. Instead of waiting for future happiness, let’s follow the advice of Julie Berry in Happy Right Now. What would life be like if we didn’t procrastinate joy? The book begins with a young girl claiming she will beContinue reading “I can’t wait until…”
Sharing your Voice
I miss the days of browsing the library, reading new books displayed on top of the shelves. And the days of sitting on the floor of the bookstore, finding treasures for my collections. Not that sitting on the floor is the intention, but some books justify reading them immediately. Walking to the tiny chairs inContinue reading “Sharing your Voice”
Goodbye 2019-2020
Schools often celebrate their annual ending with field day, assemblies, graduations, and parties – a two-week conclusionary hurrah. With or without the celebrations, it’s time to say goodbye. Highlighting books that include sentimental hopes for future endeavors feels like a good way to close out this school year – books that substitute for the yearbookContinue reading “Goodbye 2019-2020”
Choice
Last night my daughter suggested we play a board game we had purchased at a thrift store but never figured out how to play. Why not? This shelter-in-place time has been great for that sort of thing – trying things we’ve always meant to try. The game was about choice. And, I won. Most likelyContinue reading “Choice”
Change
It didn’t take long for life to flip upside down. As an elementary school librarian without a library, students or books, my role has changed. I can still read to my kids and have opportunities to recommend books – but only electronically. For chemo families, much of this situation feels familiar: after receiving unexpected news,Continue reading “Change”
Loving the Library 