Do you remember the very first chapter book you read cover to cover ON YOUR OWN as a little kid? How grown-up you felt. That feeling that you had accomplished something huge, a grand achievement. I signed my first out of the school library when I was in third grade. We returned from the library, … Continue reading What Was Your First Chapter Book?
Category: Books from childhood
Little Women
Beware, spoilers abound. I must have been around eleven years old when I first read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. My mother had a collection of classic children’s literature ranging from Black Beauty to Aladdin, Aesop’s Fables, to Little Women. I think I read it in the matter of a day. I loved it. … Continue reading Little Women
Convenient Company
"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book". ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden I’ve always relied on books for company. In fact I can remember the titles of specific books that have kept me company during some of the loneliest times in my life. Even when … Continue reading Convenient Company
To Write About the Moon
I want to write about the moon. It’s been demanding attention the last two days fully exposing itself on my drive home and then sneaking through the tiny slit in my bedroom blinds to blind me in it’s brilliance. I have to admit I was a bit worried. Wednesday my ninth graders were in fine … Continue reading To Write About the Moon
Christmas Book Ideas
I teach High School English. One of my classes has decided they wanted to have a "secret Santa" so I acquiesced but only on the condition that the gifts MUST be a book and not just any book a used book nothing over 5 dollars. Well, the enthusiasm that ensued was far beyond my expectation. … Continue reading Christmas Book Ideas
Books as Convenient Company
"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book". ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden I’ve always relied on books for company. In fact I can remember the titles of specific books that have kept me company during some of the loneliest times in my life. Even when it … Continue reading Books as Convenient Company
Potluck and Prose
My AP Engish class wanted to have a potluck. So we did. And while we were eating our delectable meal we discussed... what else our favourite books EVER. Favourite books from our childhood. Favourite books from middle school. Favourite books from present day. And what a lovely discussion it was. The snow fell in heaps … Continue reading Potluck and Prose
Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief”
“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, … Continue reading Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief”
For the Love of Tomes
Today I bought two books. Tomes actually. Any day a book is purchased is a good day. I was a farm kid. The farm was a wonderful place for a child to cultivate an imagination, no matter how peculiar. My sisters and I defended tree forts from imaginary marauders. Cooked witches brew in an old … Continue reading For the Love of Tomes
