[Editor’s note: This post is part of a continuing series on how writers craft words to express their ideas and to connect with readers.] “I definitely didn’t feel I fitted in. I was awkward, uncomfortable, not terribly happy in the real world but incredibly happy in books. I used them as a survival guide and … Continue reading “Authors, Developing Words – Neil Gaiman”
Tag: libraries
Stop the Summer Slide Early this Year
As the last of the school bells ring sometime in May or June of every year, kids race out of classes and into a summer they hope will be filled with fun and adventure. Very few think about reading and the need to keep up with their hard-earned skills from the previous academic year. This … Continue reading “Stop the Summer Slide Early this Year”
Graphic Novels and Other Resources for Stuck-at-Home Kids
In our blog on graphic novels and comics, we discussed how visual input can reinforce characters and themes, especially for those who struggle through rigorous text. Now that we’re all practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the schools and libraries are closed, it’s even more important to match students with reading material that … Continue reading “Graphic Novels and Other Resources for Stuck-at-Home Kids”
The Importance of Reading during the Coronavirus Pandemic
We’re all going a little stir-crazy these days, even though we’re only in the early stages of coronavirus lockdown and just learning how best to practice social distancing. We’re being told not to gather in groups larger than 10 people, and that means businesses, movie theaters, restaurants, and even schools and libraries are being shut … Continue reading “The Importance of Reading during the Coronavirus Pandemic”
Dolly Parton’s Literary Legacy Continues
A short time ago, we discussed Dolly Parton’s creation of the Imagination Library program in 1995. The non-profit program, underwritten by local libraries and other community institutions, provides one free book a month to children from newborns to five years old. From its small start in Sevier County, where Parton grew up, the Library has grown … Continue reading “Dolly Parton’s Literary Legacy Continues”
Why Libraries are Irreplaceable
On July 21, 2018, Forbes.com published an op-ed piece by LIU Post economist Panos Mourdoukoutas under the headline “Amazon Should Replace Local Libraries to Save Taxpayers Money.” Don’t try to find the article – Forbes pulled it down shortly after posting it due to the enormous backlash from librarians, educators, and the public as a … Continue reading “Why Libraries are Irreplaceable”
Choosing Books for Your Child
Reading is an important skill, one a child will use all through their entire life. It will not only help them in school, but it will also help them working their way through achievement tests, getting into college, graduating from college, and making a success of their chosen career. But how do you get a … Continue reading “Choosing Books for Your Child”
Literacy Begins Early
A new report from Alberta, Canada indicates that fewer students are entering kindergarten each year with the necessary literacy skills to begin reading. As a result, according to Christie Watson, lead teacher of the Comprehensive Literacy program, only 78% of kindergarteners in the 2015-2016 school year were prepared enough to move on to Grade 1 … Continue reading “Literacy Begins Early”