And here are their reading recommendations:
Courtney Lombardi (Jefferson-Houston) recommends Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf. Courtney has loved this book since she was a child and now reads it to her classes each year. The main character Ferdinand shows empathy and courageous behavior in the book. It is a magical story, according to Courtney.
Molly Hall (John Adams and William Ramsay) recommends The Boxcar Children series. Molly says it was always a favorite because it really fostered her imagination and was fun to read. As a teacher, she loved reading the series to her class too.
Alison Jones (Program Advisor) recommends My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things by DK. This enticing non-fiction text inspires learners of all age groups, covering a large span of topics with interesting facts, diagrams, and illustrations. Each topic is long enough to hold your interest, foster conversation, and create curiosity...leading to a subsequent trip to the library!
Leah Wilson (Charles Barrett) recommends Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. Leah loves this book because kids can relate to Lily, the main character who is a very strong-willed girl. The themes of the book are learning about self control and dealing with disappointment, and Kevin Henkes does a beautiful job portraying Lily’s struggles in a very relatable way. The illustrations are also wonderful.
Stephanie Harris (Lyles-Crouch and Ferdinand Day) recommends Snowman at Night. It's a fun rhyming book with hidden pictures on each page -- the perfect winter book.
Jessica Klein (James Polk and Patrick Henry) recommends Mo Willem’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Do you know a kid who loves saying, “no?” In this book, it’s the reader’s job to tell the very persuasive pigeon he cannot drive the bus under any circumstance. Enjoy!
Lisa Jacobs (Executive Director) recommends Rosemary Well’s simple and classic Max’s Dragon Shirt, Bunny Cakes and Max’s Chocolate Chicken. Although she overly identifies with (bossy) big sister Ruby, Lisa finds herself cheering for the mischievous little brother in these stories.
Debbie Glenn (Samuel Tucker) recommends The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. She loves this book because of the tangible objects included within. It really became a ‘star’ when her adult son asked about it while away at college.
Katharine Smeallie (Cora Kelly and Maury) recommends He Came with the Couch by David Slovion for adults. Years ago a friend gave Katharine a copy and she shares it often with other adults. When she does, it’s always a hit. It’s a humorous book about a family who has to get a new sofa, which comes with an intriguing visitor.
