Recently by iVillage.com
Like in this recent, popular, New York Times piece, there’s been some press lately about how important books are as a means of identifying people with similar interests and attitudes. With these new “bookshelf” applications in Facebook (as I mentioned a few weeks back), and other places, books are clearly—even in this digital age—remaining a social touchstone.
Some of it is of course just silly stuff—as I’ve discovered in my life as a writer of “popular” fiction, people can be snobs about books more than almost anything else in this world—but I think communicating to each other about books is a pretty positive thing.
After all, what’s more personally meaningful than the ideas and worlds we experience in books? (Hint from yours truly: very little.)
To that end, here’s a picture of one of our own bookshelves that Sue just took the other week for a website.
One or two of those books happen to be pretty good for young readers.
Please feel free to drop a comment below if you’re curious.
Some of it is of course just silly stuff—as I’ve discovered in my life as a writer of “popular” fiction, people can be snobs about books more than almost anything else in this world—but I think communicating to each other about books is a pretty positive thing.
After all, what’s more personally meaningful than the ideas and worlds we experience in books? (Hint from yours truly: very little.)
To that end, here’s a picture of one of our own bookshelves that Sue just took the other week for a website.
One or two of those books happen to be pretty good for young readers.
Please feel free to drop a comment below if you’re curious.
For any of you who think being a bestselling author sounds glamorous, I’d like to point out that it’s not all black-tie award ceremonies and limousines. Actually, even for the annual formal event or two that the publishing event still puts on—at least of the ones I’m invited to—I prefer driving myself.
And there’s nothing I dislike more than dressing up in monkey suits, as folks used to call tuxedos.
But bird-suits? Well, if it’s getting attention to the cause of encouraging parents to turn their kids into readers . . . I’m a push-over:
Join Max's flock!
Anyhow, hopefully this is something fun for you to do with your kids . . . or co-workers.
Hope pages are flying in your home, too.
More soon,
JP
And there’s nothing I dislike more than dressing up in monkey suits, as folks used to call tuxedos.
But bird-suits? Well, if it’s getting attention to the cause of encouraging parents to turn their kids into readers . . . I’m a push-over:
Join Max's flock!
Anyhow, hopefully this is something fun for you to do with your kids . . . or co-workers.
Hope pages are flying in your home, too.
More soon,
JP
This week I’d like to refer you to a letter I received from the President of First Book:
RIF, if you don’t know, is one of the pioneers of kid-directed book distribution programs. I’ve already reached out. Do you think you might take a couple minutes to reach out to your congresspersons?
Infusing a love of books in our own kids is challenging enough . . . imagine how hard it is to do in families without our resources and level of education.
Dear Jim,
Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a national nonprofit literacy organization and a good friend of First Book, needs your help. The President’s proposed fiscal year 2009 budget eliminates the RIF Book Distribution Program. Unless Congress reinstates funding for this program, RIF will be unable to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children.
While RIF is hard at work demonstrating to Congress the importance of reinstating their program’s funding, they need the help of all of us who believe in the power of books in the lives of children. We urge all of the First Book community to reach out to their members of Congress to request the reinstatement of RIF funding. Your voice, as a constituent, is the most important resource we have to make sure that Congress protects this critical program.
Please visit rif.org and help RIF build support in Congress for reinstating the funding. RIF will regularly update the website to show the ways you can most help!
We hope you will share this message with family, friends and colleagues. Thank you for your support as First Book and RIF work to bring new books and resources to the kids who need them most!
Sincerely,
Kyle Zimmer
President , First Book
RIF, if you don’t know, is one of the pioneers of kid-directed book distribution programs. I’ve already reached out. Do you think you might take a couple minutes to reach out to your congresspersons?
Infusing a love of books in our own kids is challenging enough . . . imagine how hard it is to do in families without our resources and level of education.
