School librarians play such an enormous role in bringing children to books they are going to enjoy. It's a magic alchemy when that works.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
It is an awfully sad misconception that librarians simply check books in and out. The library is the heart of a school, and without a librarian, it is but an empty shell.
I have a real soft spot in my heart for librarians and people who care about books.
You have to give kids things they're interested in reading. That's what teachers do who are engaged in what their students want.
Children will not pretend to be enjoying books, and they will not read books because they have been told that these books are good. They are looking for delight.
Books are such a great way to spend time with your children, open lines of communication with your children, and just build that strong foundation.
Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.
I didn't start working on children's books until I got a job at a book warehouse on the children's floor. When I started reading some of the books, I was so impressed.
For a lot of kids, reading is not magical. It's really hard work.
If my books can help children become readers, then I feel I have accomplished something important.
It's our job - as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles - to find books our kids are going to like.