Reading and Summer

Summer reading is on the forefront of my mind.  I’m seeing it everywhere.  Maybe it’s because I am a school librarian and my social networking tools are picking up posts about reading & summer.  

This past Sunday our local newspaper included this cover on Parade magazine.  I thought it was great that the cover story was about reading.  Earlier last week I also tuned in to watch Oprah’s Youtube video about her new 2.0 Book Club.  Oprah always pushing a good thing!  This year’s twitter hashtag #bookaday is in full swing.  Thank you author/teacher/book whisperer Donalyn Miller for encouraging us to share what we love to do! Earlier this week fellow librarian & friend Tamara Cox encouraged me to participate in a fun reading competition between teachers and librarians. Go #leagueoflibrarians! I don't have a competitive bone in me, but I'll support the cause.

My plans this summer include reading as much as possible.  I usually start off strong, but fizzle out.  Hopefully I will be able to keep reading until August 16th (the day we return to work) because I have a huge pile of books and audiobooks I want to get through (as pictured above).  Why do I put this pressure on myself?  Because I love reading stories and learning new things.  Reading young adult literature helps me recommend books to students and teachers.  I love a great story and talking about books is time well spent. Reading non-fiction helps me in my personal and professional life. In the past, reading non-fiction was not exciting for me, but now I pick up books about yoga, education, the study of habits and raising babies in France (my current non-fiction reading selection is pretty eclectic).

If you wonder what the big hype is about reading, read what author Walter Dean Myers has to say about reading.  He is the nation's latest ambassador for young people's literature. I used to encourage students to read because it will take them to new places.  After reading Mr. Myers’s share how reading changed his life, I realized that reading should not be offered as an option to our students- it should be a requirement that is embraced because it will improve our lives, not burden it.

Are you reading this summer?