Gutman on Censorship

I just read an article by author Dan Gutman in SLJ on Censorship and the role of the author, the parents, the librarian, and the teacher. And it made me wonder-- what about the role of the administrator?

I have been blessed to have a supportive administrators who understand that kids explore life through books--reading about things does not mean they want to do them-- the reader lives vicariously through the book-- and sees the consequences of that character's choices. Of course he thinks about what would happen to him if he was in the same situation. Don't we all?

We can't keep kids from growing up by censoring what they read. We are the safe haven--the school library--where they go to find information and trust that we are at least trying to understand them and the world they live in.

Since one of our many goals in the library is to help kids find their way in the world, offering them a choice in what they read--and for some that means cutting edge fiction that drives them to read--or entices them to read--or makes reading cool; for others humor, or graphic novels, or fantasy--is of the utmost importance. If the library becomes obsolete to teens, we lose the opportunity to guide a new generation of leaders.

Let's guide them now, while we have them, and trust them to make choices in their own reading.

Umbrella Summer Booktrailer

Umbrella Summer--Book Review

Annie hates getting the "dead brother" look, but she seldom escapes it during the first year after her older brother Jared’s death. Now Annie is ultra careful to make sure she does don’t contract any diseases (like Ebola) or take chances that may cause her to be injured (like running an obstacle course,) since no one knew her brother Jared was sick until it was too late. As Jared’s birthday approaches, each of the people who knew and loved him struggle to deal with the fact that he is gone.

Each character in Umbrella Summer plays an important part in helping Annie discover how best to celebrate her brother’s life. Lisa Graff paints a humorous and poignant picture of the lives of Annie, her parents, her best friend, and the community that surrounds them.

Reading Professional Books

I love reading professional books, but rarely have time! For the next six moths I am going to read them and post reviews here. First up, Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do about It by Kelly Gallagher. It looks to be a book about how turning everything nto a lesson that teaches how to analyze every book and reading assignment to death as if it were a passge on a test is killing to joy of reading and creating a generation of kids who do not read for pleasure, since they take no pleasure in reading.

I'm looking forward to the "What I can do about it" part. Uh-oh. Looks like I'm missing graduate school again! Somebody remind me that I can't go back for another degree till Jack is much older!

Can't wait! What are you reading?