Lauryn's Bookish World

  Writing fiction is not as easy as it looks. I think of it as juggling multiple hats. You must ensure the setting is immersive without overshadowing the plot. You need to have dynamic characters, and your plot should be concise and engaging. Plenty of writers believe that middle grade or young adult fiction is easier to write, but I find it even more difficult to cater to a younger audience. Your writing must be clear and concise, but avoid talking down to your audience. Plenty of authors struggle to find that balance, but both of the books I read were great novels.  Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac is a slow-paced, quiet novel about a young girl named Malian who is sheltering at her grandparents' place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Written in verse, Bruchac does a fantastic job balancing the day-to-day life of a young person during the pandemic and Penacook's history. As readers, we learn about residential schools and colonialism through Malian, which ma...

       Safari Pug By Laura James       My first memory of books like these is Junie B. Jones books. They were extremely popular when I was a child, and my siblings and I would try to get as many books as we could for Junie B. Jones. Jones series as we can. Reading these books reminded me of being in elementary school and waiting to read the next book in the series.      The most interesting aspect of these books is that they belong to a distinct category of their own. They are not entirely picture books, but they are not strictly chapter books either. They feel like they are for older children, but I would not recommend them for a twelve or thirteen-year-old. These books are a unique genre, and their sole purpose is to serve as a bridge between picture books and chapter books.      The books I chose were mostly for nostalgia reasons. Despite the books being recent releases, I wanted to be reminded of my childhood. I d...

       Teaching is a difficult skill to acquire. Many people believe that teaching is merely relaying information, but it is more than that. It is the ability to engage with your audience. It is an art form, and plenty of the teachers I know discuss how important it is to know your audience. Both of the books I read this week are well-targeted to their audience, and they attempt to convey information in an approachable and engaging manner.      My first book, Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes, by Juan Felipe Herrera, profiles prominent Hispanic figures, such as Joan Baez and David Glasgow Farragut, and elevates them to the status of heroes. Each historical figure has their own section, and each section delves into their life, story, and history. Herrera also provides a picture of where they were born, and if they are alive. Each story is short, simple, and easy to read. Since Herrera is a poet, his writing is both factual and lyrical...

        Folklore is passed down from generation to generation. Most of the stories I was told centered around Irish folklore. It mostly involved fae creatures, and most of these tales had lessons. A couple of them were as follows:  1. Don't go into the forest by yourself.  2. Be nice to your parents.  3. Always have a bowl of sugar outside your front door.  4. Don't be greedy.       One thing I noticed about folk tales is that they always have a lesson. Whether it's a cautionary tale about arrogance or a story about spreading kindness, folk tales should be used as teaching tools.       Folklore varies by culture. In many cultures, it is passed down verbally, usually from an older person to a younger one. Tales and stories like Tales Our Abuelitas Told by F. Isabel Compoy and Alma Flor Ada, and The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton, were usually told verbally. They also have different themes. Some includ...

       Poetry is one of my favorite ways to engage with young patrons. The rhythmic quality of poetry makes it easy to understand and engages with patrons. Although we think poetry is just putting rhyming words together, it is more than that. Every word choice is deliberate, which is why I love reading poetry in different formats. For both of my selections, I decided to pick different formats. I wanted to see how reading it on the page is different from listening to it.  Gorman, A. (2021). Change Sings . Viking Books for Young Readers. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman          For poetry, I try to listen to the audiobook. I want to hear how the author reads their work, and how the work is supposed to be read. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman is fantastic to read, and Gorman does an exceptional job of drawing the reader in. Each word is deliberate and conveys a strong message about the importance of using your voice. Gorman encoura...

  Starling-Lyons, K., & Minter, D. (2018). Going Down Home With Daddy . Peach Tree.  From Going Down Home With Daddy Going Home With Daddy stars a young child named Lil Alan visiting his family at his grandmother’s ancestral home. Although he is excited to go, Lil Alan is unsure what he will share. Using poetic language, Lyons paints a story about connection, familial ties, and reclamation.  Despite their history of slavery and racism, they still have the power to dream and build a life of their own. We also see this theme in the art. Illustrated in watercolor, each page feels free-flowing. Minter’s art feels connected to the other, making each page blend. With purposeful imagery and color, Going Home With Daddy is a powerful story about family and the reclamation of land.  From Going Home With Daddy Cordell, M. (2017). Wolf in the Snow . Macmillan.  From Wolf In The Snow                 M...