It seems that a number of libraries were built by wealthy men. I grew up near the Huntington Library and went there often. My mother took me to look through windows as scholars in white gloves turned the pages of old manuscripts. She was in awe and so was I even though, at the time, […]
Books
C is for Carnegie #atozchallenge
C is for Carnegie Most people know of Andrew Carnegie as a steel magnate who immigrated from Scotland in poverty and became one of the wealthiest men in the world. He should be known more for his philanthropy. He gave most of his fortune away to fund a system of public libraries. Between 1886 and […]
B is for Bookmobile #atozblogchallenge
Welcome to Day 2 of the A to Z Blog Challenge where I will join other bloggers in writing thematic posts in alphabetical order. I am spending the month celebrating Library Love. B is for Bookmobile When I worked as a children’s librarian, I was always a bit jealous of the bookmobile librarian. I […]
A to Z Library Love
Welcome to the 2017 edition of the A to Z Blog Challenge where you’ll find posts on just about every subject in A to Z order. I originally intended to write about holidays and celebrations but I kept finding myself reading about libraries so that’s what I’m celebrating this month. Join me as I travel […]
If You’re Happy and You Know It…
Today happens to be International Happiness Day as well as the First Day of Spring which means there’s two reasons to celebrate! What makes you happy? Time with Thomas makes me happy (I love his spaghetti face): Spring make me happy – I love long days when I can take long […]
5 Multicultural Cybils Chapter Book Nominees
As a first round Cybils judge, I have had the opportunity to read some of the best books published this past year for young readers. It is important to note that many of the books included diverse characters. Children need to see others like themselves in the pages of the books they read. Today I […]
Good News – 6 Chapter Books for Multicultural Kids a MCBD Review
There is nothing as exciting as watching children catch the reading bug. Usually this happens a a child progresses from easy readers to chapter books. Very often the books they fall in love with have relatable characters that the young reader can relate to. The best way to keep the enthusiasm growing is with […]
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Picture Book Reviews
Hooray! It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Four years ago, bloggers Mia Wenjen and Vickie Budayer became concerned about the lack of diversity represented in children’s books. They decided to do something and began Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Kid lit book lovers will be sharing children’s books featuring diverse characters all over social media. There is more […]
For the Right to Learn – Malala Yousafzai #readyourworld
Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a day set aside to celebrate the importance of diversity in the books written and shared with children. For many years, books with characters from different cultures, ethnic groups, and religions have been difficult to find. That is changing, however, as authors, publishers, librarian, and teachers seek out books that […]
Knitting + Picture Books = Love… six books to keep you warm
Hello there! I’m so glad you stopped by. I haven’t been posting much lately because I have been traveling about and reading lots and lots of books. I am sitting in my nice cozy chair listening to the rain and watching the Kings River flow past our home. Today would be a good day to […]
Field Trip Friday – book review and a visit to the jail
I normally read and review kid lit but at least once a month I enjoy reading and sharing an adult book with my book club. Carmen, my November co-hostess, and I decided to include a field trip with our selection: Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2015) Based on a […]
Field Trip – Feeling Fallish
It doesn’t seem possible that October is over. I have been traveling most of the month and I am happy to announce that I experienced my first real fall. Fall in Southern California is marked by high temperatures and hot winds known as the Santa Anas. This increases the risk of fire so we pray […]
The Heart of the Library
Many of us take libraries for granted. So much so, that we forget the important role of libraries and the librarians who provide resources to everyone. But, not everyone has access to the treasures libraries have to offer. In September, I attended the first meeting of the Fresno area chapter of REFORMA, the National Association […]
Ten Important Lessons I Learned from Roald Dahl
Reading James and the Giant Peach was one of the highlights of my childhood. I was hooked from page one. Many of the most important lessons I learned in life came from books written by the brilliant Roald Dahl. And, in honor of his 100th birthday, I’m sharing some of his wise words. […]
Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome
Today I am linking up with the great bloggers who share Diverse Children’s Books. The current theme is Diverse Books Featuring a Character with a Disability. This is a subject which is close to my heart. What is Asperger’s Syndrome and how do you explain it to young children? As a teacher and a mom to […]