Not Having to Nag-Slice of Life Post-July 7, 2015

Each Tuesday the amazing bloggers at Two Writing Teachers host Slice of Life Stories (SOLS). This is where bloggers link up to share anything they would like to share about what is happening in their lives. 

Each summer it is the same story. My daughter, who is 13 and going into 8th grade, resists reading and I need to "suggest" that she read from time to time which usually leads to eye rolling, heavy sighs and the whole bit. Well, not this summer! Molly always listens to her teachers so when she was assigned the task of reading a book this summer she took it seriously (I know, I don't like assigned reading either, but that is a different discussion). She was given a list of books as suggested reading. I looked it over and saw that Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson was on the list. I had a copy and knew Molly would love it. I had to temper my enthusiasm because nothing makes her want to read a book less than my being excited about it. I mentioned that I had a copy if she wanted to read it.
As I had predicted, she was hooked from the beginning. I always know when she is into a book because she keeps reading me quotes. I can't think of a more quotable book, can you? Over the week she read without being asked and for long periods of time until she was finished. "Wow Mom, that was a good book, can we talk about it?" 
To which I replied, "Of course!" while trying not to do a very uncool happy dance. As we talked I told her about my brief meeting with the author at NCTE in Boston where I was introduced to her and shook her hand. She stared at me, mouth agape and in that moment I was a rock star! 
While I do not like the idea of assigned summer reading and really despise the lengthy list of questions and activities she now has to do with the book, I am thankful for this positive summer reading experience with my daughter. 

Stack-It-Up Sunday, October 26, 2014

On Sundays I like to share some of the random piles of books around my house. I originally posted about my piles on this celebration post.  Along with showing everyone how messy my house is, I like to share because each pile has its own story.

Here are this week's stacks.

 

Harold and the Purple Crayon sits on the side table and Tyrannosaurus Reg is beside the ghost.

 

These are my latest acquisitions. I needed two more copies of One for the Murphys for book groups and my class wanted the second Explorer book.

 

I got Migrant from my library and Stuck in the Middle of Middle School was a gift I brought Molly back from my writing weekend. They sit on the kitchen counter.

 

This is my most recent library stack resting on the ottoman. Visit tomorrow to see all the wonderful picture books in here.

 

Random books sit on another side table. Molly thought she might like this 

kind of graphic novel, but she did not.

Lastly, this well-loved copy of over in the meadow sits on the playroom floor. 

TJ brought it in the car as we ran errands yesterday.

What books are in your stacks?

Stack-It-Up Sunday-October 5, 2015

On Sundays I like to share some of the random piles of books around my house. I originally posted about my piles on this celebration post. As Along with showing everyone how messy my house is, I like to say that each pile has its own story.

Here are this week's stacks.

This is the stack on my stairs waiting for me to bring them to my room.

 My son is loving his ABC Sing Along Book right now. 

This stack is by the couch. 

These books sit on the dining room table where I worked yesterday. 

TJ is currently loving this classic (he loves Finding Nemo also). 

Here is my library stack. 

Linda Rief's Read, Write Teach and Thomas Newkirk's Minds Made for Stories along with Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming sit on my kitchen counter. 

What do you have in your stacks?

Celebrating Piles of Books!

Every week, Ruth Ayres over at Discover. Play. Build. invites people to share celebrations from their week.  Please visit and consider linking up your own celebration. 

"Um......do you think.....maybe we can do something about the stacks of books?" my sweet husband asks, tentatively.  "Like maybe put them in one place?" he suggests. 

Don't get me wrong, my husband is incredibly supportive of my reading habits, my book purchasing addiction and all of my nerdy ventures. His comments were directed toward my book piles. I didn't think it was that bad.  Sure, there are a few books on the kitchen counter, and maybe some down on the big desk that holds everything, but that's about it. Oh, and those by my bed, but who doesn't have a stack by their bed? 
So I decided to take a look around the house to see where there might be more piles. I guess he was right, there really are piles everywhere. 

 Yep, two piles on the counter.  We pile lots of things there. 

The bedside nightstand

The bedside floor

There were NO piles on the desk, but there was one 

on the floor by the desk..... 

and in a basket by the desk.

That had to be all, right?

Nope. 

Molly's floor

On Molly's bookcase

Behind the couch next to TJ's inflatable planets. 

You are a true book nerd if you noticed the Scholastic box underneath.  Yes, it is filled with books from the December warehouse sale. 

On a pile of clean clothes, not yet put away, don't judge. 

I thought I was done when I spied a stack hiding on a chair. 

I guess I really needed to think about this. Do these piles mean that I am just a slob? Maybe a little.  I have since consolidated the piles, moved some and brought some to school.  

After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I love my piles, love, love LOVE 'em. They are like disorganized, little monuments constantly reminding me of my reading life.  I consider them to be artwork sprinkled around my home. Each is unique and reminds me of time in my life, an event, story or author.  Simply put, they make me happy.  

How do you "organize" your reading life?