I’m a huge supporter and proponent of the library and utilize mine constantly. And I entirely agree that trees are happier when the books they’re used for are shared by the community — what a beautiful thought.
I’m sure there are many caregivers who don’t need book recs — more power to them, especially if they’re heading to the library and asking librarians, or browsing. But I’ve also heard from many people — friends, before I started this newsletter, and subscribers, since starting it — that some feel daunted by all the choice, they don’t know what to look for or how to help their kids find what’s interesting to them. I am not an expert, nor do I think there’s one right way to find books and enjoy them as a family — I merely share my own experience and knowledge, and if it helps someone, fantastic. If not, thanks for stopping by. Take what you like and leave the rest!
Speaking as one of said caregivers, I don't "need" book recs - but I sure do appreciate them. I have two kids with wildly different interests and reading styles, plus a full-time job and a parent for whom I also provide light/symbiotic caregiving. We walk to the library after ballet class every Saturday, but my younger kid is a real ball of energy and our in-library time is necessarily fairly brief. I like to save the actual browsing time for my older kid, so I prefer to have a list of books I'm looking for (or have already requested through library transfer) and then I spend the rest of the time actively reading to or playing with my younger guy so my 7-year old can take his time as much as possible.
If I can front-load and outsource some of the emotional labor of choosing what to read next, especially if I can look through archives by topic when something strikes me, or quickly glance at books relevant to things going on right now (seasons, holidays, etc), it helps a lot. I love being able to make and curate my lists in the quiet moments after bedtime is over, then showing up at the library with a pile of transfer books already set aside for me, and one or two titles to find on the shelves. Plus, just having the newsletter hit my inbox regularly keeps the subject at the forefront of my brain, where I want it but sometimes struggle to keep it on my own.
Hey Sarah, I think this works well as your center piece content in your magazine layout. Have you had any other comments about the concept? I appreciate your comments and opinions!
Thanks, Paul! I’ve received no feedback about the placement of this — I just thought it made sense. You’re welcome the steal the idea, if it works for you.
Hi Sarah, I'm stuck in my bedroom separated from my wife and 7 month old in the living room looking for things to read because of covid, and I'm really happy that I stumbled on your newsletter!
As someone who didn't grow up reading a lot but who later in life started reading more, I've wondered what I would read to our daughter. I knew intuitively even before she was born that reading with her would do tremendous good for her and our relationship, but since I hadn't read many children's books, I always just chose whatever was convenient and sounded vaguely familiar, downloaded via the Libby app and my local library subscription.
That photo you have on this page of you reading with your children - you had me at that. Read a few of your posts after that and decided to subscribe. Thanks for doing people like me a big favour, and for being generous by sharing much of it for free. Depending on how deeply our daughter and I get into the reading habit, I believe I might become a paid subscriber in the future. Cheers, Sarah. Sincerely, Nick.
Oh, Nick, thank you *so* much for this comment -- it made my day. So did the fact that you're building a reading life with your daughter even though you didn't have that as a kid -- that's just amazing, and kudos to you. You're giving her a gift that will last a lifetime (not to mention everything *you* get out of it -- I wouldn't trade that closeness, those snuggles, or the inside jokes and conversations my kids and I have had because of books for anything in the world). You're doing a great job; keep going!
My son, who is 12, recently finished Jennifer Egan's The Keep, which was a book from the parent library shelf. He liked it, so I felt very proud! He is currently reading a book for school, The Egypt Game, which he isn't that into. Then he's going to read Animal Farm. Oh and he read the new Dogman in like 10 minutes, lol.
My eight year old daughter is reading Judy Blume and Babysitter's Club. She loved Otherwise Known as Sheila Great. I just got her It's Not the End of the World but I didn't see that it's about divorce and that makes her anxious. (Her dad and I are not getting divorced but it's a trope that makes her upset!)
My four year old son has been into reading Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle tv-to-book junk, and Press Here.
And I'm reading the new Tana French as well as a collection of essays called All Things Are too Small by Becca Rothfeld, who is a philosopher and a book critic for the Washington Post. They're pretty heady essays but they're also fun and occasionally even saucy too, on topics like de-cluttering, sex, etc.
I love The Keep! (I actually think older Jennifer Egan is better than present-day Jennifer Egan.) I also love The Egypt Game, but I haven't read it since *I* was about 12, so maybe it's not as good as I remember.
I love it all--I was thinking of giving him the Power Point story in Good Squad next to see what he think! The Keep is definitely the best pick for a younger reader.
Excited to have discovered your corner of the internet. Wanting to prioritize reading more in our home with our four year old, and I'm always so grateful for a well-curated list. Thank you!
Sorry to ask this on a public board, but I'm new here and curious about how we can best introduce you to our small independent children's publishing company? Red Chair Press
I’m a huge supporter and proponent of the library and utilize mine constantly. And I entirely agree that trees are happier when the books they’re used for are shared by the community — what a beautiful thought.
I’m sure there are many caregivers who don’t need book recs — more power to them, especially if they’re heading to the library and asking librarians, or browsing. But I’ve also heard from many people — friends, before I started this newsletter, and subscribers, since starting it — that some feel daunted by all the choice, they don’t know what to look for or how to help their kids find what’s interesting to them. I am not an expert, nor do I think there’s one right way to find books and enjoy them as a family — I merely share my own experience and knowledge, and if it helps someone, fantastic. If not, thanks for stopping by. Take what you like and leave the rest!
Speaking as one of said caregivers, I don't "need" book recs - but I sure do appreciate them. I have two kids with wildly different interests and reading styles, plus a full-time job and a parent for whom I also provide light/symbiotic caregiving. We walk to the library after ballet class every Saturday, but my younger kid is a real ball of energy and our in-library time is necessarily fairly brief. I like to save the actual browsing time for my older kid, so I prefer to have a list of books I'm looking for (or have already requested through library transfer) and then I spend the rest of the time actively reading to or playing with my younger guy so my 7-year old can take his time as much as possible.
If I can front-load and outsource some of the emotional labor of choosing what to read next, especially if I can look through archives by topic when something strikes me, or quickly glance at books relevant to things going on right now (seasons, holidays, etc), it helps a lot. I love being able to make and curate my lists in the quiet moments after bedtime is over, then showing up at the library with a pile of transfer books already set aside for me, and one or two titles to find on the shelves. Plus, just having the newsletter hit my inbox regularly keeps the subject at the forefront of my brain, where I want it but sometimes struggle to keep it on my own.
Hey Sarah, I think this works well as your center piece content in your magazine layout. Have you had any other comments about the concept? I appreciate your comments and opinions!
Thanks, Paul! I’ve received no feedback about the placement of this — I just thought it made sense. You’re welcome the steal the idea, if it works for you.
Hi Sarah, I'm stuck in my bedroom separated from my wife and 7 month old in the living room looking for things to read because of covid, and I'm really happy that I stumbled on your newsletter!
As someone who didn't grow up reading a lot but who later in life started reading more, I've wondered what I would read to our daughter. I knew intuitively even before she was born that reading with her would do tremendous good for her and our relationship, but since I hadn't read many children's books, I always just chose whatever was convenient and sounded vaguely familiar, downloaded via the Libby app and my local library subscription.
That photo you have on this page of you reading with your children - you had me at that. Read a few of your posts after that and decided to subscribe. Thanks for doing people like me a big favour, and for being generous by sharing much of it for free. Depending on how deeply our daughter and I get into the reading habit, I believe I might become a paid subscriber in the future. Cheers, Sarah. Sincerely, Nick.
Oh, Nick, thank you *so* much for this comment -- it made my day. So did the fact that you're building a reading life with your daughter even though you didn't have that as a kid -- that's just amazing, and kudos to you. You're giving her a gift that will last a lifetime (not to mention everything *you* get out of it -- I wouldn't trade that closeness, those snuggles, or the inside jokes and conversations my kids and I have had because of books for anything in the world). You're doing a great job; keep going!
Congratulations for being substack featured! Your blog is so homey, and comfortable to read.
Thank you so very much 💗
My son, who is 12, recently finished Jennifer Egan's The Keep, which was a book from the parent library shelf. He liked it, so I felt very proud! He is currently reading a book for school, The Egypt Game, which he isn't that into. Then he's going to read Animal Farm. Oh and he read the new Dogman in like 10 minutes, lol.
My eight year old daughter is reading Judy Blume and Babysitter's Club. She loved Otherwise Known as Sheila Great. I just got her It's Not the End of the World but I didn't see that it's about divorce and that makes her anxious. (Her dad and I are not getting divorced but it's a trope that makes her upset!)
My four year old son has been into reading Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci, various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle tv-to-book junk, and Press Here.
And I'm reading the new Tana French as well as a collection of essays called All Things Are too Small by Becca Rothfeld, who is a philosopher and a book critic for the Washington Post. They're pretty heady essays but they're also fun and occasionally even saucy too, on topics like de-cluttering, sex, etc.
I love The Keep! (I actually think older Jennifer Egan is better than present-day Jennifer Egan.) I also love The Egypt Game, but I haven't read it since *I* was about 12, so maybe it's not as good as I remember.
I love it all--I was thinking of giving him the Power Point story in Good Squad next to see what he think! The Keep is definitely the best pick for a younger reader.
Excited to have discovered your corner of the internet. Wanting to prioritize reading more in our home with our four year old, and I'm always so grateful for a well-curated list. Thank you!
Welcome, Caylie! So glad you’re here.
Sorry to ask this on a public board, but I'm new here and curious about how we can best introduce you to our small independent children's publishing company? Red Chair Press