April - Poetry Month - Day Twenty-Nine - Free Choice - Reading and Me

 

       Happy Poetry Month, where poems parade in the streets, run like rivers within our veins or settle in our hearts every.single,time. 

       I have been using this older book pictured left that follows the alphabet with one kind of prompt each day. I used this book on occasion in the classroom years ago, but never worked through it day by day, with deliberation! But now I've finished the alphabet and arrive at the final four days - free choice! ONE MORE DAY!

        Last week was Library Week. Last week more books in some areas were censored, taken from libraries, taken from schools. Often this happened from a complaint from one person, or only a few. I didn't have so much money to buy books when I was growing up. Libraries were my favorite places. In my early grade school days, I lived in a small town, and relied on the marvelous, wonderful, exciting visits from the Bookmobile! I couldn't have survived without it. From grandparents and parents and aunts and uncles, all readers, all read to me. I am sad to imagine what it might be like to have someone looking over my shoulder to see if they "approve" what book I'm reading. And, I moved to my home now eleven years ago. One thing that sold me on it was that the local library is only ONE block away. Now I work in a used bookstore (all-volunteer run) and with books and others surrounding me who love books, it seems like another 'best' place in the world.

Here's a 'glimpse' of one part of the store,
trade fiction.
There are hundreds more –
all topics, hardcover and softcover, a delightful place to be.

Bibliophile

Today I wanted to confess

that I have times of deep distress

deep down real unhappiness

when I have nothing to read.

I have gone to great extremes

often let out wild screams

to others I’m crazy (it often seems)

when I can’t find a book.

Just call me an unreformed bibliophile

My feelings of book-loving have never been mild

I’ve been known to read cereal boxes a while

When I can’t locate a book.

The changes that come over me

are wonderful for all to see

I think it’s terrific just to be

when I am reading a book.

                                   Linda Baie ©

Must Reads-Books Needing Love-2015

                  Carrie Gelson of There's A Book for That and Maria Selke of Maria's Melange started us down the path of giving love to all the books that came before, the ones we have on shelves, but still haven't been read! There is a small group of us that shared lists titled #MustReadIn2014. You can view that list if you click on the title on the bar above. I've read 13 of the 26 I listed. Someday I may read them all, but maybe not. For whatever reason, I haven't had/taken the time for them. Here is my list for 2015, hashtag #mustreadin2015!  I'm hopeful that I will read more than this past year's list showed. I have moved a few of the books from last year's list to this one!

Thanks for the nudge, Carrie & Maria!

Middle-YA

All The Answers - Kate Messner

Navigating Early - Claire Vanderpool

Seraphina - Rachel Hartman
The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp - Kathi Appelt

Grasshopper Jungle - Andrew Smith
Shadow Throne - Jennifer Nielsen
Half A Chance - Cynthia Lord
Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater
Where Things Come Back - John Corey Whaley
Love, Amelia - Alma Flor Ada
The Great Trouble - Deborah Hopkinson
The Red Pencil - Andrea Davis Pinkney
Winger - Andrew Smith
Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets - Evan Roskos
March - Lewis, Aydin, Powell
How I Discovered Poetry - Marilyn Nelson

for adults

Dog Songs - Mary Oliver

Quiet - Susan Cain
All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

for professional development

Nonfiction Notebooks - Aimee Buckner
What We See When We Read - Peter Mendelsund