On Friday I traveled the 144 miles to Bloomington Illinois to meet with freshmen at Bloomington High School. I was invited by Keran Johnson, the school\’s retiring Library Media Specialist (she\’s in full countdown mode). We met last fall when I spoke at the Illinois School Library Media Association in Springfield, and she mentioned how […]
End of Year School visit Read More »
I spoke at the 8th National Conference of African American Librarians on August 8, 2013. The topic was Empowering the Voice of the Black Male in Children’s and Teen Lit. [Click here to read the YALSA Hub post about the conference] At one point we had a discussion on the role of non-fiction. One librarian
Empowering the Voice of the Black Male in Children’s and Teen Lit – NCAAL 2013 Read More »
And the 5th test- Will it be FUN? Today, after one of 2013\’s few (and worst) snowstorms, I was up at six am and out the door into a road IDOT had not yet cleared because of a commitment I made months ago. It seemed safe back then to schedule my visit to talk to the
Reluctant Readers and the Rotary Read More »
Being God comes out Feb 1. The book represents my commitment to writing quality books designed to attract both eager and the reluctant teen readers. Especially the kids known as reluctant readers. I truly believe that most kids who are reluctant do not deserve that name. They are just kids who have not yet found the
Last week I read a post on the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood blog about the need to make books more accessible to people with visual impairments. The post featured a disheartening description of what one reader once had to do to get a book in a format he could read. Thank heavens for eReaders that can
Making books accessible Read More »
I first heard of the world of fandom two years ago, but did not think much about it until this session. The world has existed for a long time. Many teens have grown up in a remix culture. A world where they have been able to build an AU or alternate universe where they change the words,
YALSA Conf report – FANDOM Read More »
On Thursday, 10-18-12, I will be presenting the first of two workshops at the Ohio Educational Library Media Association. I will be talking on a subject close to my heart, reaching out to reluctant readers. Advertisers and Marketeers know it’s easier and less costly to retain an existing customer than to win back a lost
Attracting Reluctant Readers Read More »