Philip Levine named Poet Laureate of the United States

Philip Levine, a former Detroit auto worker has been named the Poet Laureate of the United States.  

Click to watch a video of Levine reading his works.   Be sure to listen to "What Work Is", my favorite.    Books of his poetry are available in the Media Center.  A biography of Levine is available online.  Do you like his poetry?  Do any of his poems speak to you?

Teen Read Week - October 16 - 22

Celebrate Teen Read Week!  Read as many books as possible from the nominated list.   Then vote online at www.ala.org/teenstopten for your favorite book during September.   The Top Ten winners will be announced during the week of October 16 – 22.  Post a comment below to tell us your favorites.

YARN - Young Adult Review Network

Like YA literature?  Are you a writer, a poet?    Check out YARN, an online journal dedicated to YA literature.  YARN publishes work by teens alongside established YA authors. 

Summer Reading Animoto

Just made a little animoto showing covers from some of the books I have read this summer.  This is such an easy tool to use.  I think perhaps Riverside should subscribe to this site.  Here is my Summer Reading 2011 Animoto. 


Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

RSS feeds

 This morning, I heard this report on NPR from Nancy Pearl, a librarian on great books for summer reading.  Pearl says "I look for a book (fiction or nonfiction) with a strong narrative voice, wonderfully drawn characters and writing that makes me stop and savor the words the author has written" .  So I have subscribed to this NPR feed.  You can find the list at http://www.npr.org/2011/06/23/137084790/nancy-pearl-presents-10-terrific-summer-reads?ft=1&f=136825076

DPS Technology Challenge

So what would I want to put on a blog?  What I am currently reading, of course! I am in 2 book clubs and work with reading groups at school.  I am constantly reading....lots and lots of books....but when asked "what have you read that is good lately", I sometimes am unable to come up with a winner.  So here is my answer to that question.  I will keep a running list of what I read, including what I read for my book clubs and just for fun.  I will highlight the really good ones, so I will have the answer to the question of "what have you read lately that is good?"