Topic of Choice - Reading Off My Own Shelves vs. Library Books
I am a load-up-at-used-book-sales kind of book buyer. I don't often buy brand new books, and if I do, I use a gift card. And I very rarely pay full price for them. So suffice it to say that I own a lot of books. Many of them are spontaneously bought books - ones that I had never heard of before but looked as if I could be interested in reading them someday. And they only cost a quarter, so why wouldn't I pick them up?
On top of that bad habit, I love library books. There's just something about entering a huge building full of free books that I can't resist. There's nothing wrong with loving libraries. But when I am constantly filling my own bookshelves, but hardly ever reading anything from them? That's not so good.
So I entered the Mount TBR Reading Challenge this year, hoping to read 36 books that I own. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a plenty high goal for me. I'm not quite two-thirds of the way through, and I'm discovering something strange. Rather than feeling "forced" to read off my own shelves, I want to. I'm avoiding libraries. I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when a book on my shelf is no longer unloved. I'm sure I'll finish my reading challenge this year. But more importantly, I may have found a solution for my overflowing yet neglected bookshelves. I'll just keep chipping away, one book at a time.
On top of that bad habit, I love library books. There's just something about entering a huge building full of free books that I can't resist. There's nothing wrong with loving libraries. But when I am constantly filling my own bookshelves, but hardly ever reading anything from them? That's not so good.
So I entered the Mount TBR Reading Challenge this year, hoping to read 36 books that I own. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a plenty high goal for me. I'm not quite two-thirds of the way through, and I'm discovering something strange. Rather than feeling "forced" to read off my own shelves, I want to. I'm avoiding libraries. I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when a book on my shelf is no longer unloved. I'm sure I'll finish my reading challenge this year. But more importantly, I may have found a solution for my overflowing yet neglected bookshelves. I'll just keep chipping away, one book at a time.
Middle Grade/Young Adult Books
I love middle grade books. I teach fourth grade, so I'm kept fairly in the loop about what is popular in middle grade fiction. Right now (at least for the boys in my class), it's the Origami Yoda books. And while I haven't read any of these myself, I love the concept. Origami and Star Wars and puns galore! I also love introducing my students to some classics during our daily read-aloud time. We start in September with The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden, and the kids still remember Chester and Tucker by the end of the school year. We read our way through The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary and enter the crazy world of Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School. I love hearing their reactions to the funny and serious moments. These characters are real and living to them. There are some stories that never get old, no matter how many times you read them.
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