Read, Discuss, and Do with MARI IN THE MARGINS

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By Marci Whitehurst The best books make readers feel like they aren’t alone. They’re seen. Understood. Our very own  Rebecca J. Gomez  accomplishes this flawlessly in Mari in the Margins , her new middle grade novel in verse, published by Bandersnatch Books. It releases May 14 th !  Here’s a snippet about the novel, which you’ll surely want to READ:   For Marivel Jiménez, life in her big family is full of chaos. Feeling overlooked by her parents and overshadowed by her siblings is frustrating, and it's even worse to have the constant attention of her annoying, mischievous three-year-old sister, Susana.  Caught between her need to be noticed and her dream of having time to herself, Marivel pours herself into poetry and, eventually, art journaling. When she hears of a school-wide poetry contest, she sees winning as a chance to escape the margins of her family and finally be seen. Doesn’t that sound amazing? That’s because it is. I was honored to read the book ahead of its release—and
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Summer Challenge Week One: TIME TO CHILL

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Welcome to WEEK ONE of the Read, Discuss, Do! Summer Challenge! We are excited to have you join us for a summer full of pairing books with summer fun. 

But first, it's time to announce the winners of the kick-off giveaway. The winners were chosen with random.org. 

The winner of the copy of BAA, BAA TAP SHEEP is Julia Gomez!

The winner of the signed copy of TWO TOUGH TRUCKS GET LOST is Jessica Evans!

Congratulations! I'll be reaching out to both of you so you can claim your prizes. Thank you so much to everyone who entered. There will be more giveaways throughout the summer, so don't be too sad if you didn't win this round. 

Now, on to this week's theme! 

Whether we have kids in school or not, by the time summer comes around many of us are ready to take some time to chill. That doesn't always happen, though, unless we are intentional about getting some rest and relaxation. Summer doesn't necessarily mean time off, after all. And even if it does, sometimes we need a vacation from our vacation! So, this week's theme is meant to encourage you and your families to take some time to relax together, even if your schedule is still pretty busy. You can start by choosing some quiet, peaceful books to read!

Suggestions for books to read: 

  • ON A MAGICAL DO-NOTHING DAY by Beatrice Alemagna. This is a book about what happens when a small mishap forces a child to spend a day doing "nothing," which turns out to be not as boring as expected.
  • OUTSIDE IN by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby. This book is about how the outside world makes its way in, encouraging us to go out the door and be a part of it.
  • HERE AND NOW by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale. A lovely book about taking the time to enjoy each moment.
  • QUIET by Tomie dePaola. I love this book for its simplicity and the way it gently encourages the reader to take time to be still, even when the world around you isn't. 
Suggestions for things to discuss:
  • Talk about the book's story and characters. Do the characters have a problem to solve? If so, what is it? How do they solve the problem?
  • What is your favorite part of the book and why?
  • What are some ways you like to relax? 
  • Do you generally like peace and quiet or bustling activity better? 
  • What are some ways you can relax if you feel anxious or stressed? 
Suggestions for things to do:
  • Spend a quiet afternoon finding shapes in the clouds.
  • Listen to some calming music.
  • Relax in a hammock or other comfy outdoor chair.
  • Sit in the shade while sipping your favorite beverage.
  • Color or do a puzzle. 
  • Snuggle with a pet.
What are some of your favorite quiet books? Do you have a favorite way to take time to chill? Let us know in the comments!

If you haven't already, be sure to download and print the bookmarks for your kiddos to color. There will be a contest announced soon!

Also, we have a Summer Challenge calendar, complete with all ten themes and activity ideas, in case you want to plan your library visits ahead of time. 





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