Recently, a mother came up to the desk with her third-grade daughter. The daughter had selected a book about horses that she seemed very eager to read. The mother asked me if it was on the Accelerated Reader list. It was not. "Well," she said, "there's no point in my daughter reading this book if she can't get points for it." The child was then made to put the book back on … [Read more...] about Why I hate the Accelerated Reader Program
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Spam Sandwiches
The Trap by John Smelcergrabbed my attention because of it's cover. Drops of blood on the snow near an animal trap led me to want to learn more about the story. Survival stories can be quite riveting, and I was in the mood for a fast-paced and gripping read. The story, set in Alaska among a Native American community, is beautifully told. The grandfather's fight for survival … [Read more...] about Spam Sandwiches
Hi, I’m Joel and I’m an addict!
A few months ago, Allie recommended that I get some audio-books to help me pass the time while commuting to and from work each day. She selected the prequel to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time Series, but neglected to mention that it was the beginning of a very long series. The next thing I knew, I was hooked. It was nice. Bad traffic was no longer a problem. No road rage … [Read more...] about Hi, I’m Joel and I’m an addict!
Discovering Jane Eyre
As an undergraduate, I majored in English literature. Except for the grammar classes, I loved every minute of it. I read books I never would have read otherwise, like Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury. At first, I dearly hated that book. It was, I thought, impossible to read, but I pressed on. Today, I count it among my favorite books. Unfortunately, even an English major … [Read more...] about Discovering Jane Eyre
Chicken Walks in to the Library – Ha! Ha!
A chicken walked in to the library, went up to the librarian, flapped her wings and said, "Bok! Bok!" The librarian reached behind her, grabbed a book, and placed it under the chicken's wing. And, out the door, the chicken waddled. A few minutes later, the chicken returned. She placed the book on the counter, looked at the librarian, flapped her wings, and said, "Bok! … [Read more...] about Chicken Walks in to the Library – Ha! Ha!