October 21, 2018

It's okay to reread books and series.

I recently heard talented author and 2018 National Book Award finalist Leslie Connor speak and something she said struck me. She said, "I wasn't the strongest reader as a kid. I reread my favorite books and series." I think there is comfort in knowing what to expect. Intuitively, our readers are giving themselves exactly what they need. They crave practice with a text that is motivating to them. Basketball players who want to improve their foul shot percentage practice the same movement over and over again until it becomes part of their muscle memory. And there are other benefits too. Each time you read something again you pick up on something new you didn't get the last time you read it.  I have students report that they have read the entire Harry Potter series several times. Some readers just like that world and want to be a part of it as much as possible. It's pretty remarkable, really, that our readers are doing this for themselves. 

HMS Family Book Club Title
We will meet on Thursday, November 29th from 7:45-8:30 am

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer Macy's Parade, (2011)
by Melissa Sweet

Goodreads summmary link

In keeping with the season, I thought I would share a spooky RICBA title this week. To be honest, I cannot read anything remotely scary. The cover alone would scare me off as a kid and it still does today. However, we have lots of students who look for scary stories to take out of the library.

Curse of the Boggin (The Library #1), 2016

by D. J. MacHale

Goodreads summary link

There is no book trailer for Curse of the Boggin.

I loved this week's featured series as a kid. I really enjoyed imagining the animals of the house having a whole drama-filled world the humans are not privy to. This is the series I like to mention to readers as an option at this time of the year. These books should not be sitting on our shelves!

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery (Bunnicula #1), 1979

words by Deborah and James Howe, pictures by Alan Daniel

Goodreads summary link

This series is created by the founder of We Need Diverse Books. The second in the series, The Island of Monsters, came out this past July. 

Spirit Hunters, (2017)

by Ellen Oh

Goodreads summary link

This is a brand new picture book biography about the author of Frankenstein.

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein, (2018)

words by Lynn Fulton and pictures by Felicita Sala

Goodreads summary link

There is no book trailer for this book.

We will order this graphic novel but we don't have it just yet. You can easily obtain a copy through the public library!

Sheets, (2018)

by Brenna Thummler

Goodreads summary link