Week 2 begins!

Walter Dean Myers said "Reading is NOT optional!" and he's right. I don't know about you, but I prefer real paper books to online reading. So, how do you keep reading when you can't actually go to the Mann library or the DC Public library, and you want to read real, paper books and stuff like that?

Well, I've found that my own house is a pretty good source of reading material. Maybe yours is, too? Maybe you have older siblings who have books that you haven't read yet - now's a good time to see if there's something good for you in their library: ask them for their recommendation! Maybe you have younger sibs, and you can re-visit old favorites that you liked when you were littler? You can practice reading aloud, while amusing them for a little while? I, myself, have some bookshelves crammed with books, and have been exploring them lately. I've found a bunch of long-lost classics I want to revisit, including some old favorites I'll be reading to you and posting on my padlet soon.

Perhaps your family subscribes to the newspaper? If so, ask your parents if they can share Kids Post and the comics pages in the Style section. Or, if you have any Little Lending Libraries in your neighborhood, you should ask your caregiver if it's OK for you to take any. (I don't know if you're allowed to touch things like that in your neighborhood, so please be sure to ask your caregiver first!)

And then there's YOUR very own collection of books. You probably have at least a few that you can re-read. Re-reading can be a good way to deepen your understanding of the characters, plot, setting...and themes (the author's main idea, or big message). Sometimes you'll notice things you totally missed the first times you read the book. I'm planning on re-reading something I haven't read in a long time (and sharing the read-aloud on my padlet): George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends! I made green soup on St. Patrick's day, and it reminded me of Story Number One: Split Pea Soup.

And finally, you can go online (if that's an option for you) and get free audio books from Audible - available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. I feel like I can include Audible here, because you don't have to look at a screen once you start listening! Here are instructions on how to use Audible from any device.

So here are just a few suggestions for you as you try to find ways to keep reading stories at home when you can't go to the library. Of course, you can always read the encyclopedia, menus, board game instructions, and all sorts of things while you're at home that are NOT books, but to pass the time, nothing beats a good story!