Ce-le-brate good posts--come on! One year ago yesterday (Blogger had tech difficulties yesterday), I started my blog. Taking a look back to my first post…
“Even if I only reach a few teachers or parents and my blog helps them put books in the hands of their kids, it’ll be worth it. I know there are hundreds of children’s literature blogs out there, but I hope you keep coming back to mine, if only for the simple reason that your child (or even YOU!) loves the books I’m writing about. But I plan on including more in this blog than just books. If events or news related to education and the publishing world spark a passion within me, I’ll be expressing my opinion about that too.”
I still feel the same way and have these same intentions—I just have so much to say about books and this is my creative outlet in which to share. It dawned on me that there was one entry that I never posted. I was waiting for who knows what, but I think this is the right time to share it.
I live in St. Louis and the question that everyone asks you if you appear to be in college or older is, "So, where'd you go to high school?" I personally think this gets you nowhere in terms of sizing a person up. I wouldn't be able to tell you the first thing about who YOU are as a person if you told me you went to Lindbergh or McCluer. But it's almost a guarantee that if I told a fellow St. Louisan I went to Clayton, an eyebrow would raise and something along the lines of "Oh, so you're a spoiled rich girl" would cross through ones head and maybe even issue from one's lips (no joke, this has been said to me). I didn't start Clayton till I was a sophomore...my mom (a first grade teacher) moved my siblings and I into the district because of the well-rounded education she knew we would receive.
On to the point of my post...what if the universal question we asked others was "What was your favorite childhood book?" So many people would be willing and delighted to answer this question. As evidenced from the following quote,
“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” -Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail (Nora Ephron, 1998)
The reading you accomplish when you are younger forms who you are and lets you imagine who you could be. The magic is still there when you are younger and for some it never leaves. Asking that simple question let's others open up and not close down because no one has the right to judge you based on your favorite childhood book.
Hiphip Hooray! Here’s to my blog and may there be many more posts!!
You have my dream job. I actually applied for it last night and learned that the open position had been filled in-house already. I found your blog by doing a google search of "'Collection Development Specialist' in St. Louis" to see if there is anything else out there like this-- and you popped up!
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering if, as an insider, you have any recomemendations for getting my foot in the door in regards to working for The Booksource. I'd appreciate any advice if you have the time :) jillypiepancakes@hotmail.com
Thanks, and cool blog, too!