248. Books, Books, Books!

Activities, Books 0

I’m starting a 48-Hour Book Challenge tonight! It’s that time when I make reading my top priority — and that makes my heart sing.

I am privileged to get to be a judge for the Cybils Awards and for the Mathical Awards. And I so love doing the reading for both awards! I’ve also got my dream job selecting children’s and YA books for my public library system, and life is very good. Getting to do a 48-Hour Book Challenge always reminds me I live a life of luxury! I can spend time reading.

242. Good Books, Good Friends, Silent Book Club

Books, Events, Friends 0

I’ve listed all of these things before — perhaps if I put them together, I can make a new listing?

I was feeling a little discouraged after having my water heater replaced. That’s a big thing to deal with “by myself” (not that I was ever really alone), and had an emotional aftermath.

But Silent Book Club was just the thing to take away any residual bad feeling. I’m reading such very good books! And I have such good friends! (We even had two new people today.)

I realized that I have NINETEEN favorite books already this year that I will consider nominating for the Newbery. I only get to nominate seven, beginning in October — but how wonderful that I’ve read that many wonderful books!

218. Booktalking

Activities, Books, Events, Friends, Libraries 0

Booktalking has gone well this year!

It helped that we did the hardest one first – one hour per grade. (Most are 20-30 minutes per grade.) All the rest seemed like a piece of cake after that!

But it has also helped that I have read so very many good books, since I’m reading for the Newbery Award.

And maybe it helped that I have enough experience, I don’t worry as much about it.

And I really enjoy the two co-workers I do it with.

So it was an enjoyable time of booktalking this year – one day left tomorrow!

212. Wonderful Books

Books 0

I finished a very good book last night at Silent Book Club, and then I started a new one when I got home. And I was several chapters in, when I realized that I LOVE this book and I LOVE the main character.

Now, it’s true that by the time I finish I may not love it as much. (The author could still blow it.)
And I may read many more books this year that I love this much. (Wouldn’t that be great!)
And it’s possible that the others on the committee won’t love this particular book as much as I do.

But I think it’s safe to say that I’m going to get to help give an award and honors and huge recognition to some books I LOVE this year.

Last night I had this moment of thinking I wished I could tell the whole world about this wonderful book and this amazing and wonderful character.

And then I realized: I GET TO DO THAT!!! I REALLY DO!!!

208. New Books and Time to Read Them

Activities, Books 0

I’ve got four days off for Christmas. They’ll be sort of busy, but there should be plenty of time to read in there.

And – today our Youth Materials Selector sent me another box of 2018 children’s book ARCs – to get a headstart on my reading for the Newbery. Yay! I had almost read all the middle-grade ones she’d sent before, so I was ready for a new batch.

It’s going to be a lovely Christmas!

198. Four Bonus Months of Newbery Reading!

Activities, Books 0

Yesterday, I read a comment on Heavy Medal blog that when the commenter was on the Newbery committee, they didn’t read many Advance Reader Copies except a few they picked up at ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Normally, I don’t have any ARCs for a given publishing year until Midwinter Meeting myself. Next year’s Midwinter Meeting is in February.

Last week, our youth materials selector sent me an entire box of 2018 children’s book ARCs. (Sent to the library to consider purchasing.) So she is granting me FOUR BONUS MONTHS of Newbery reading! (Btw, anything nominated by myself or another committee member, I will read the finished copy as well. But this gives me a headstart.)

Since I’ve been super eager to start reading since April – this is such a gift!

I’m not going to mention any titles or any opinions. But I am SO EXCITED to be reading for the Newbery!