Resolution: Develop the Reading Habit

Now that January is almost over, have most of your New Year's resolutions fallen by the wayside?  


Whatever your answer to that question, it is not too late to resolve to read more during the year ahead.  That's a realistic resolution too -- one at which you can be successful!


Not sure what to read?  I hope you'll stop by our school library, and I will be happy to offer you some suggestions.  That's part of my job, and I always like to see someone walk away with a great book in hand.  


January is also the month when the American Library Association announces its annual award winners in various categories.  To view the entire list, go to http://www.ala.org.  I will share some of the winners here for you to consider.  


Michael L. Printz Award - award for literary excellence in young adult literature


     2011 Winner: 
     Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
     2011 Honor Books:
     Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick*
       
     Stolen by Lucy Christopher*
     

The YALSA Teen's Top Ten Winners' List for 2010 includes:
*Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
*Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
*If I Stay by Gayle Forman
*Fire by Kristin Cashore
*Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year!
 Our school library owns the starred titles.  Remember that you can easily take advantage of our interlibrary loan program to borrow titles from other school and public libraries.  We receive deliveries, at no charge to you, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  Please feel free to ask if you have questions about this program.


There are so many good book choices out there for you to read!  


Even if you start with just 15-30 minutes a day reading a book just for fun, you will be amazed at how quickly you will become a much better reader.  Not only will you become a better reader, but you will develop a new, healthy, lifelong habit!  Those 15-30 minutes will likely increase to a longer period without you even noticing.  That's what happens when you let a good book grab your attention.


So, don't wait any longer!  Get into the reading habit - you'll be glad you did!