Middle Ground: Why Are Middle-Grade Books So Sad?
“You thought this was funny?” she asked me. “I didn’t laugh at all. I hardly ever laugh at books.”
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Happy New Year!
Wishing you a 2015 filled with reading, writing, and joy! Original artwork by Grace Ahmed.
CLiF Spotlight: Family Holiday Dinners, or the Best Events Ever
I love this season. I love that so many cultures have holidays this time of year, when it’s cold and the nights are darkest and we’re most in need of shared light and warmth. It’s hard to pick a favorite CLiF event, but our holiday family events for Year of the Book communities are right up … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
The Next Great Book: Holidays 2014, Part Two
This is the second half of Jane’s holiday recommendations. For Part One, click here. And now a handful of outstanding picture books, because I cannot choose just one (ever!). Sidle on up, pardner, for a hilarious Wild West caper by the outlaw author/illustrator duo Bob Shea and Lane Smith. Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads … Continued
General / Book Recommendations
The Next Great Book: Holidays 2014, Part One
I’ve got lots on my mind as I think and write about books and giving this holiday season. But I think Kyle Zimmer, President of First Book in Washington DC says it best for me when she spoke at the National Book Awards ceremony this past month: “In this country that we are so … Continued
General / If you're a parent and...
If you’re a parent and… your child starts keeping a diary
At the last Scholastic Book Fair, my daughter coveted a hot pink cat diary. She bought it with her own money. She amazes me by diligently filling in her schedule on the calendar and filling in her “contacts” in the address book. It did backfire when we wanted to change a family movie night that … Continued
General / If you're a parent and...
If you are a parent and… every day is Thanksgiving
As parents we often exhaust ourselves prodding our kids to use their manners: “Remember to say please.” “How do you ask nicely?” “What’s the magic word?” “What do you say now?” We want them to be polite, appreciative, socially appropriate beings, and sometimes forcing them to use manners doesn’t feel like the most effective or … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Party for a Cause in Hanover, NH
The party Friday, November 14 in Hanover, NH is a great example of the good that can happen when two organizations work together. The Hanover Rotary Club hosts an annual auction fundraiser and splits the proceeds with a nonprofit serving the Upper Valley. This year, the club invited CLiF to be its nonprofit partner. CLiF’s share went … Continued
General / If you're a parent and...
If you’re a parent and… you need inspiration to inspire
I went to the Vermont AfterSchool Conference on October 24 where I was inspired by the variety of programming available for out-of-school-time programs. Surprisingly, I was even more inspired by the keynote speakers. The conference kicked off with Rebecca Holcombe, Vermont Agency of Education Director, sharing her four key values: show passion, create partnerships, be innovative, … Continued
Picture: Books — Happy Halloween!
Wishing you a fun and spooky Halloween! Check out our list for some great Halloween book ideas.
General / Book Recommendations / If you're a parent and...
If you are a parent and… you need the toy to end all toys
It’s a drizzly, dreary afternoon. The blocks have towered and the cars have raced and the crayons have drawn. But it’s still drizzly and dreary. Cue the whining. My son’s new favorite I’m-bored-phrase is “but who will play with me?” That’s when it’s time for the box. You don’t need movies or video games or intricate … Continued
Guest post: Encouraging a love of books from behind bars
We are thrilled to have a guest post today from Deb Nelson, CLiF board member and AP English teacher at Lebanon High School. This past Friday I was picked up in the misty gray morning by my fellow board member, Jess Eakin, for our drive south to Concord where we spent the day in prison. As many readers … Continued
Oct. 10 Friday Links Library
Good morning! In children’s literacy news this week: Teachers, librarians, booksellers, take note: via Publishers Weekly‘s Shelftalker blog, Josie Leavitt has great ideas for how bookstores can host successful teacher nights. Josie (of the Flying Pig in Shelburne, dear to my heart) throws credit to Karen Rosenthal of RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT (also dear … Continued
CLiF Spotlight: Power Lunch with “A Real Alive Storyteller”
It’s not often that folks compete for the honor to have lunch with me (especially when I’m not footing the bill) but it happened on October 6th. And it was a blast!
General / If you're a parent and...
If you’re a parent and… you dread the 28-part nonfiction series
Sarah Stewart Taylor, a CLiF presenter and author, interviewed CLiF’s founder and executive director Duncan McDougall for a recent parenting piece. Sarah summarizes the aspects of reading supported by our programs – relaxing and enjoying the moment, modeling by reading yourself, repeating books, and letting kids choose. I know this is true, and I feel like … Continued
Sept. 26 Friday Links Library
September is coming to a close. The CLiF Year of the Book has been successfully launched in eight elementary schools, and schools that saw 80% or more of families commit to regularly reading together are getting ice cream socials. Rural Libraries kickoffs are coming up next. And in the office, we’re assembling the newsletter, preparing for the … Continued
General / If you're a parent and...
If you are a parent and Grandma lives far away…
When it comes to good grandmas, my son, Emmett, hit the jackpot. Twice. He inherited not one but two nurturing grandmothers who ooze affection for him and are thrilled to spend every waking moment giving him attention and endless snuggles. But where Emmett’s winnings failed him is that both of his grandmothers live TOO FAR AWAY. … Continued
Middle Ground: Storytime Isn’t Just for Little Ones
I’m a firm believer that reading aloud continues to be important as kids get older and that “storytime” shouldn’t end once kids become independent readers.