ALA Summer Reading Lists

Keep children reading over the summer to prevent a loss of skills known as the "summer slide."  Encourage them to select their own books to see that reading is a pleasurable activity and to motivate them to become lifelong learners and readers
The ALA, American Library Association has released suggested summer reading lists to help you get started.

K-2 Books 

3-5  Books

6-8 Books

Happy summer reading,
Christine

Friday Film Clip: Still I Rise

Dr. Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou has died.  I'll never forget the first time I read an excerpt of her best-known work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  Read the Publishers Weekly piece on her literary contributions  here.

Be Quoted in National Magazine!

An editor I know is looking for an educator to comment on "number partners" or "graphing/ungraphing."  If you have expertise with either of those, and would like to be quoted in a national parenting magazine, please email bookgirlblogger(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy reading and quoting,
Christine

Children's Theatre Playwright Competition

The Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center is holding a Children's Theatre Playwright Competition for unpublished writers.  For more information visit facebook.com/cmpac

Happy reading and writing,
Christine

Children's Publishing News

According to Publishers Weekly:

Jill Freshney has been promoted to the newly-created position of senior executive managing editor, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Happy reading and writing,
Christine

A Dash of Magic

Enchante`!  That is how I felt after reading A Dash of Magic, by Kathryn Littlewood.  Set in France, with allusions to the Mona Lisa, the Louvre, Versailles, Marie Antoinette and the Eiffel Tower, this confection of a cooking-contest story contains all the ingredients of a good read!  I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Happy reading,
Christine

Hooked

 Hooked brings to life the hook-ups, break-ups and make-ups of 20-somethings over the course of a Columbus Day weekend in a cramped, New York City apartment.  Written by Danielle Burby, this production was staged by The Bare Bones Theater Company, in Northport.  The intimate venue really helped me feel like I was right there in the apartment as this group of friends and lovers navigated the rocky road to romance.

Ms. Burby, the playwright was in the audience, and I couldn't help wondering what it must feel like to see your  own words performed live on the stage!  (I'll have to ask her client, Mimi Cross, the fellow writer who gave me the tickets. Thanks, Mimi!)

Tonight is the last performance of this production, so if you are free, I highly recommend that you go see it.

Happy reading,

Christine

My Article Out Now - Learning Disabilities

The May, 2014 issue of Scholastic Parent and Child is out now, and in it is my piece on learning disabilities.  While researching this piece, I learned many interesting things from the National Center for Learning Disabilities and Dr. Sheldon Horowitz, Ed.D.

Happy reading,
Christine