Never Too Old for for the Wisdom of Comics... or Librarians!

I'm sharing a BRIEF post here, to reflect the wisdom of brevity (which is not among my most obvious qualities).

An inspiring author, whose work I shared HERE, posted this on her Facebook page today. It is too important to ignore:

(Originally shared via Margriet Ruurs)

Margriet Ruurs is global advocate for libraries and books, which shines through in her own books and throughout her life. Click HERE and HERE  and HERE for more about her books and about why she inspires.

PLEASE be less concerned with a child's "reading level" today or in the months ahead, and more concerned with raising someone who loves to read, and knows that books are superb sources of both answers and questions.

(Just in case my BRIEF post left you feeling in need of a few more words, those links will provide plenty!)  

COVID19 anchor in time:

In this country, reopening school decisions is making very little progress. In large part that's because COVID19 is making HUGE progress in many areas here. If you will be dealing with children (as a distance teacher, a "hybrid teacher", a physical space teacher, or a "more time with my kids than I ever imagined" caregiver, please keep the focus on reading for the love of it. Anything else (any skill, strategy, or specific content) can be developed later. Growing a book-lover should be our first priority. And that involves using picture books, at any age. 

BLACK LIVES MATTER Movement update:

As I post this today, the body of Congressman John Lewis has made its way to his home district in Atlanta. He'll be laid to rest in a service tomorrow. If you missed my prior post about his story, please click HERE to find some of the many ways we can keep his legacy alive and move it forward. Our kids are living through an unimagined history, and his life of courage and conviction may be one of the best ways to assure them that each person can make a difference, even a "Boy from Troy", as Martin Luther King, Jr. called him.