Share your book love

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, February 2020; written by Ann Marie Meiresonne.

“Share your book love! Few things are as powerful as surrounding kids (and adults) with books and then sharing stories of how specific titles touched your heart, helped you learn something important, or just made you laugh until you cried.” This quote is from my reading super hero, Jennifer LaGarde, encouraging educators and parents to talk about what they are reading, to share the love of books because to do so is highly influential to budding and/or reluctant readers. And personally it encourages me to continue to make the time to read.

My current reading list comes from many of my peers sharing their book love. Our Youth Services Librarian has definitely put the juvenile fiction title The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart on my reading list as her enthusiasm for the book is obvious! Our Outreach Librarian handed me a book she thought I would enjoy, I’ve Been Thinking: Reflections, Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life by Maria Shriver. This book was right on target as I have enjoyed the insight and the short chapters from the author who I share some similar life experience with, who would have thought. Another staff member shared what an excellent audio book Becoming by Michelle Obama was for her. As I listened to this story I once again learned I share common life experiences with the former First Lady. A young patron and I were reading the inside flap of new fiction to each other of which I took home Another Quest for Celeste, a story about Abe Lincoln, honesty and the power of friendship by Henry Cole. A very endearing historical fiction read from the perspective of a mouse. My reading cup over flows and I am excited to make the time for reading. By the way all of the above titles are available from the library.

If you need someone to share the book love with try the Free Style Book Club which meets twice a month. This is a book club that offers something different: Instead of an assigned book for all to read, each person can give a short presentation describing a book which they would like to recommend. If you cannot attend currently there is a display in the library of Free Style book recommendations you can check out.

For book loving kids starting February 26 the Jumping Genres Book Club will be meeting. Books, snacks and discussion for those in 5th to 7th grade interested in being introduced to a new genre each month, choosing a book from that genre and discussing at the next meeting. The meetings will be scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month.

Or let us set you up with a Blind Date with a Book on Saturday February 15, 3 to 5pm. Come choose from a selection of wrapped books with brief descriptions. Check out your “blind date book,” bring it home and see if there is a “connection.” There will be refreshments and an opportunity to win a sweet treat.

Especially during this lovely time of year make sure you take time to share your book love with those around you. By buying books as gifts, taking time to browse the library with your family, reading so kids can observe that you find enjoyment from books, reading aloud or talking to others about the story you just read are all actions to share your book love. This is especially important with those children in your life.