March is nationally recognized as a month to celebrate reading.  As a librarian in both school and public libraries, I issued challenges to kids and adults to read more—both individually and with others.  Everyone worked toward a shared goal hoping to reap the reward of seeing their librarian dress up in an inflatable dinosaur costume for the day, duct-taping the school principal to the wall in the cafeteria, and even donating a goat through an international charity.  This year, I challenge you to explore some of the great resources available through the Michigan eLibrary (MeL)!

Fitting reading into your family’s busy schedule is easy with World Book Early Learning.  Follow the adventures of Trek and Taffy through stories written in English and Spanish.  EBSCO’s eBook K-8 Collection offers myriad reading opportunities on the go.  The search terms “little people big dreams,” return over 30 books from this popular series featuring prominent figures in our world.  Since women’s history is also recognized in March, you may want to explore Little People, BIG DREAMS:  Women in Art featuring Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, and Audrey Hepburn.  Little People, BIG DREAMS: Inspiring Writers focuses on the lives and literary contributions of Maya Angelou, Anne Frank, and Jane Austen.

Consider hosting a book club in your neighborhood.  I started one last fall and have found NoveList Plus to be a great resource.  There are ideas featuring various genres in the Book Club Best Bets Recommended Reads Lists.  NoveList Plus also provides guides such as Book Club Best Practices:  Starting Your Book Club and Book Club Best Practices: Selecting Titles.  Additional ideas for book clubs are located in the Quick Links menu under Book Club Resources.  For high school students and adults who struggle with reading or are learning the English language, Read It! offers engaging material based on topics such as Life Skills and Literature.  In keeping with the theme of women’s history, I found interesting biographical articles on celebrated authors such as Sandra Cisneros , Louise Erdrich, Gish Jenn, and Toni Morrison.

My sincere hope is that you will intentionally set aside time in March to read and to share your love of reading with another person.  I would love to hear how MeL made a difference in your celebration of reading.  Send your story to [email protected].