Books to help guide conversations with youth about the September 11th attacks

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. This is a difficult subject to talk about for adults as well as youth. Stories can help!

YA Lit that Shatters Stereotypes of Diverse Female Characters

In my search for YA lit that shatters stereotypes of diverse female characters, I found four new titles that challenge readers’ conceptions about race and gender.

Leaving a Legacy through Literacy

During a time when public libraries are closed and access to the school media center is limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my senior has taken on a contact-free volunteer project to update and restock Little Free Libraries for his Community Involvement class.

Books That Make Us Laugh During Unprecedented Times

Distance Learning has made everyone’s daily routines change in unexpected ways. Educators and students alike are feeling the anxiety brought on by COVID-19 and the uncertainty of what our future socializing habits will look like. As we are focusing on taking safety precautions, we need to be mindful of taking time to laugh.

Stories That Go Beyond The Single Story Stereotypes And Celebrate Chinese American Culture

As we are all finding a #newnormal, some are facing greater uncertainty as public officials call #COVIDー19 "the Chinese virus." Stories can help break stereotypes.

Relationships with Elders – new books that promote positive bonds between youth and seniors

There are many benefits of intergenerational relationships. When older and younger people connect it improves both groups’ well-being. The most common activity these generations can do together is share stories. Books showing meaningful relationships between children and their elders are a valuable addition to any library. Following are some new books that promote positive bonds between youth and seniors.

New Books to Encourage a Greater Appreciation of Writing and Reading Poetry

No other forms of writing express emotions and create imagery like poetry. The words selected by poets are based on their meaning and arranged on the page to create a rhythm and tempo for readers. Following are my favorite new poetry books. I hope these titles will help encourage students to gain a greater appreciation of writing and reading poetry.

Classic Books Made Into New Movies

The holidays are a great time to go see a movie with family and friends. My sons and I love to watch movies that are adapted from books we’ve read first. We love to analyze and compare, critique and evaluate. And more times than not, we declare the book is better than the movie. Learn more about three classic books that have been made into new movies this holiday season.

Engage All Readers: Fill Your Library With A Variety Of Book Formats To Meet The Diverse Needs Of All Students

Fostering a love of reading is one of our goals as educators. All students benefit from having a variety of different types of texts available, especially reluctant readers. When building your collection, be sure to include a wide variety of titles in different formats to meet the diverse needs of all students.

Talk About It: Three Important Steps in Creating Interesting Book Talks

[originally published on MackinCommunity.com] Having students engaged and motivated in reading is one of our goals as educators. Therefore, it is important to develop a positive and supportive reading culture throughout your school. In addition to the librarian being excited about reading, it is essential to have the commitment of the principal and staff to … Continue reading Talk About It: Three Important Steps in Creating Interesting Book Talks →