Friday, October 8, 2010

Sad Decline in Picture Book Sales

The New York Times reports a sad trend, the decline in picture book sales. Click here for the article.

Picture books can be wonderful, complex and full of terrific vocabulary that early chapter books can't use; how terrific the illustrations can be, showing children a wide range of art and teaching them to look for details and "read" the story in the art as well. I saw parents pushing their kids to reach chapter books too young. Too many teachers and parents teach their kids to hate reading that way.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Why are so many gay teens dying?

Why are so many gay teens dying?

It is so inexpressibly sad that young teens are so humiliated by others that they take their lives. How inexpressibly sad that they die in misery and loneliness. How inexpressibly sad that their families are left with such grief. My heart goes out to them.

When is our society going to realize that bullying and humiliating others is wrong, sinful, hateful?

We need to protect our children.

We need to realize that we cannot force everyone into the same mold and that love is precious wherever it is found.

Bravo to those that started and are participating in the "It Gets Better" project.