So Many Books, So Little Time
A few days ago, I spent a beautiful Saturday indoors sitting in the hard chairs of a 25-year old middle school auditorium, learning about What’s New in Children’s Literature from Dr. Peggy Sharp. Peg is the consummate professional speaker, delivering the entire workshop, (which she already seems to have memorized), without an “um” or a snafu with her huge pile of transparencies. She led us through her 152 page handout, touching on a title here and a title there. SO MANY GOOD BOOKS! I already have close to 500 of the 2006 titles upstairs in my writing room, and it was interesting for me to see what she left out as well as what was included.
I’m reading the front of Books Kids Will Sit Still For 3, by Judy Freeman. The book is weighty with its 916 pages and terrific titles and book connections. Judy has a breezy but incisive writing style, and has recommendations for more than 1700 books! Her house must be edged with book cases the way a bird lines its nest with feathers. In fact, Judy would probably agree with the quote that Peggy headed her handout with:
“I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.” Anna Quindlen, author
