Recently schools and libraries have considered the problem of “book deserts.” These are generally described as geographic areas where there are few books for young people and families to read. This is a serious issue which certainly needs to be addressed.  The research of Susan Neuman and the United for Literacy's quantified literacy landscape interactive map are well-worth studying.

My first order of business was to change the arrangement from massive piles of books to neatly shelved books with all spines facing out. I also limited the selections to children's books. It looked better. Afterward, there was a slight increase in reading activity.

I decided to take book organization one step further. Approximately half of the books were displayed with covers facing out. The remaining half were shelved by topic or series, with the spines facing out. Altering the display resulted in increased use of books. 

Adult moose and a young mooseling sporting a shirt with the numeral four (hinting perhaps four years of age?) want to share a story. But where? A search is underway. Readers will recognize a familiar pattern.
One seat too big. The next too small.
Another too old. Followed by one that is too new.
The rhythm breaks with queries such as "Should the perfect seat make you this dizzy?" when big moose's hat goes flying off his head and "Are you okay down there?" when moose is beneath the bridge .

With gentle humor, the author sends the pair on a search for a solution to their problem. Eventually, the perfect solution falls right into their laps.  
Lots of explore on each page. Gordon chooses to focus on the central characters by sketching supporting cast members with a blue-grey outline. A bird flits from page to page. The map featured on the end pages warrants attention.  There is a street to "nowhere interesting" and a Nessie-like creature floats in the middle of a lake that is "quite wet." 

"Can you read to me?" is an invitation to explore. Lê shows readers that reading brings delightful and unexpected discoveries.

​Looking for a follow-up activity?
After reading The Perfect Seat, bear and I went in search of the best spot for reading.
Invite young readers to select a favorite book and the best place to be while reading. Create a photo gallery of perfect places to read favorite books. Be sure to caption the photo with the book title. Credit the author and illustrator as well. Note: If privacy is a concern, use a stuffed critter for the photo shoot.
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What's your perfect seat?

What's with all the pink? Lately there has been a resurgence of pink, strikingly pink books. For the record, I like pink books. In fact, pink book cover groupings were one of our most popular library displays. People seem to like their book covers pink.  

But let's get back to Greg Pizzoli's latest title for young readers. This charming little piggie travels around town on his Vespa, searching for books. (Okay the vehicle is green. But is serves as a nice color contrast to the omnipresent pink.) 

But here's the kicker: although he has an extensive collection of books, Hog doesn't know how to read.

One day, he happens upon a long low building filled with books. He's in hog heaven! When he attempts to abscond with an armload of books, the gentle librarian, Miss Olive offers to read with him.

The children that I often work with adore buttons. They can't get enough of them and I'm always running out of buttons to hand put into little hands.
This Book Hog button is the best!  I wish that I had a wholesale account and could order a dozen dozen, i.e. a gross. 
My little readers would snatch them up in a heartbeat.
​Any way to get these from a retail source?

Deborah Hopkinson introduces young readers to an important historical figure: Carter G. Woodson.

​Born in 1875, the son of a formerly enslaved father and mother, young Carter grew up hearing the stories of his Virginian parents' struggles. Times were hard for this family. As a result, Woodson left school in his early teens to labor as a farm-hand, garbage collector, and coal miner. He and other West Virginia coal miners were often invited to the home of Oliver Jones, a Civil War veteran. Carter would read the newspapers to Jones and the other miners, researching and answering their questions.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is an excellent introduction to African American History Month.
Use this poster with a display of books featuring biographies, historical accounts, historical fiction, and other works by Black authors and illustrators.  Download a copy of the poster featuring an inspiring quote and art by Don Tate.

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, has penned a tribute to the power of books and the pivotal role that they have played in shaping her life. Born and raised in New York City, Sotomayor is the product of a vibrant Puerto Rican culture. 

Books played an integral role in her young life. Superhero comic books encouraged her to be brave in the face of daily insulin shots. The local library provided solace following the death of her father. Mystery books meant searching for clues and figuring out puzzles. Novels invited her to discover the importance of law. The Bible gave her an appreciation for the importance of distinguishing right from wrong. A set of encyclopedias, science fiction, and the university library opened new vistas. Books became her maps, mirrors, lens for viewing the world, and loyal friends.

Turning Pages: My Life Story highlights the importance of reading and the value that knowledge from books can have in attaining one's goals.

Meet Justice Sotomayor in this interview conducted during the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

When I first viewed the illustrations featured in Yuyi Morales picture book Dreamers, I gasped in astonishment. The art was so vibrant, so full of imagination and wonder. As I read the text, tears began to form and softly spill onto my cheeks. Yuyi's story of a young immigrant mother and her child is a story of hopes and dreams, A story of discovery.  A story of possibility. A story of love.

The text seamlessly blends English and Spanish, moving between present reality and the opportunities to explore the richness of art and imagination. Yuyi has created a glowing tribute to the power of libraries, books and art. Dreamers everywhere can find inspiration within the pages of books. 

Hint: Be sure to look at the cover inside the book's jacket for another perspective of Dreamers.

Yuyi describes her first encounters with picture books at the public library.

Yuyi Morales currently resides in Mexico. Learn more about her decision to return to Mexico in this interview.

After his mother dies, Langston's father decides to move north, seeking a better life for his son. Moving into a shabby apartment with wallpaper created from newspaper is a huge adjustment.

This Alabama transplant wears overalls and speaks with a distinctive drawl. Instantly he is derisively called "country boy" by the class bully. Others join in taunting the new boy in school.

He wonders, can he ever feel at home in this strange place? 

Imagine a world without books. Paul Czajak invites youngsters to visit the fantastical world of Arlo, a boy who loves to read. One day, while nested in the branches of a tree with his book, misfortune strikes. The volume slips from his hands and lands upon the head of the mayor. Furious, the mayor immediately calls for the destruction of all books, as he deems them dangerous.

Arlo is bereft  when all books are torn apart and the pages float away. He is not the only one missing books. There are no more stories for children at nap time. Meals become dull, as there are no cookbooks to consult. The theater ceases to perform as there are no scripts to enact. Arlo determines that perhaps he can create stories of his own. His writing germinates a torn book page, buried deep within the earth. A book tree begins to grow, nourished by the stories Arlo writes and shares. Eventually the book tree is filled with books and the town springs back to life.

He is the author the Monster and Me series.  Monster Needs Your Vote might be an appropriate selection to read during this national election cycle.
​Paul has created coloring pages, which may be downloaded from his website.

Iranian-American artist ​Rashin Kheiriyeh brings her distinctive style to fine art as well as children's book illustration. She is the recipient of numerous international awards including 2017 Sandak Fellow Award, six-time winner at the Bologna Book Fair, and Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia. 

I can't give away holiday secrets but I will reveal that I have started my holiday shopping at my local bookstore. I have purchased "just the right gift" for several individuals on my shopping list. I can't believe how perfect each book is: just the right size, color, and shape. It's the ultimate Readers Advisory!

Local bookstores are celebrating with special events. Locate events near you. You can search for activities by state. You can also find activities with this alphabetical listing of participating stores.
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​See you at the bookstore this holiday season.
It's a great place to spend some quality time with your child and together find "just what you're looking for."

Yes. There will probably be a wait.
Yes. I am a librarian and always try to be prepared for such contingencies. ​

I stepped into the hair salon for my regularly scheduled trim, sporting an ARC of this fantastic new book from Tracey Baptiste: Rise of the Jumbies.  A lovely young lady who introduced herself as Delia informed me that she was ready to shampoo my hair. But then she noticed my book and proceeded to ask me about Baptiste's middle grade novel. The cover is that eye-arresting. Take a look for yourself. We chatted for a few minutes, forgetting all about the scheduled shampoo. Seriously, why worry about your hair when there are jumbies to discuss?

Eventually we made our way back to the shampoo area and as the warm water streamed over the back of my head, Delia's slender fingers began to massage my tresses. Okay, they are rapidly thinning, but still for the sake of the story let’s imagine a flowing head of hair. Delia began to tell me her story. She was not a reader. Never enjoyed books. Then one day she saw a movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She fell in love with Harry and his fantastic adventures. She sought out the movie sequels and viewed each film several times over. She couldn't get enough of the story so decided to try actually reading the books from which the movies were based. She was totally captivated by the stories and proceeded to read the entire series. Something clicked for her. She began to ask friends if there might be other books similar to Harry Potter that she might enjoy. Her friends were happy to offer her reading suggestions. Today she reads some literature for children and teens, however now she primarily  reads books written for adults. Delia discovered that she is drawn to books with a heavy philosophical bent. I thought about the original Rowling title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and wondered to myself if perhaps there were a connection.

But this was only the beginning. Delia noticed that her eleven-year-old brother did not enjoy reading. She wondered if perhaps Harry Potter might cast its magical spell over him in a way similar to her own experience. Unfortunately this presented a bit of dilemma. Delia lives in South Texas and her younger brother lives in Chicago. The resourceful siblings found a solution. Each Sunday they would read together via Facetime.