E-Book Review: Lenny Gray

I listened to this epic e-book during my commute in DMV traffic over a period of 10 days. I immediately got hooked on the rich character performances (all narrated by author Earl Sewell!) and the lush historical descriptions of life in rural Mississippi.  This says allot mainly because I’m not a ebook enthusiast.  The story and performances captured my attention so much so that I was enjoying my hour commute to/from work because I could escape into this story and characters. 

I don’t want to give away too many parts of the story because there are so many events that take place and you will definitely be surprised.   The story’s protagonist, Lenny Gray is pregnant and trapped in a loveless marriage while trying to learn who she is as a person and woman. Sewell describes vividly Lenny Gray’s struggle with her husband Curly and her, survival during disease, famine and devastating poverty.  As described by the book’s synopsis, Lenny Gray has known from an early age that she is meant to live a better life, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women and particularly African-American women. Lenny Gray is a survivor and represents the resilient African-American women of that time who were tough and determined individuals who withstood the unspeakable.  It is these rich character traits that are often overlooked in historical fiction where African-American drive the story.  

Working in K-12 education as a school librarian for over 20 years, Lenny Gray is a book that I would recommend as a class novel read for my grades 8th-12th classes.   This book would be best used in ELA/English and U.S. History classes.   I would also recommend this book for collegiate African-American Studies or History courses because it provides an alternative view of life during this time but through the unique lens of an African-American.  

My hope is that publishing houses will recognize that African-Americans do want to read historical fiction books that feature their life experiences.   Hopefully this book, ‘Lenny Gray,’ will be the catalyst in advocating for change. 

Conversations at the Circulation Desk #5

The Audacious Librarian Blogspot

Conversations at the Circulation Desk #5 

My student Christine reviews, ‘Sideline’ by Jay C. Rehak.  She finished reading the book in two days, thumbs up!

ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge

Beautiful

My view

I attended the American Library Association's Annual Conference in San Francisco. The trip was wonderful! I had the opportunity to meet a couple of authors that I have been wanting to meet for years. In addition, I participated on a very insightful panel discussion about PH.d candidates of color. The exhibit hall this year was so engaging and I purchased so many things. Here's a couple of pictures from the trip with captions. Enjoy!

One of the coolest displays on the exhibit floor

Jacqueline Woodson!

Christopher Myers

Honored

Honored

Nancy Pelosi!

So serene and quiet before the madness begins

The famous Lombard Street

Honored

ALA President, Courtney Young

My first ever panel selfie!

Pride parade #LoveWins

Represent!

Sometimes I Have to Indulge

Whenever I get a little down time, I read.  Lately I've been drawn to the drama in the teen series called, "Rumor Central," by Reshonda Tate Billingsley.   There is so much drama in these books for teens and I must admit, I'm hooked!

I Blew My Book Budget!

I absolutely love this time of year!  I log onto the I Love Libraries website and listen with thousands of other librarians  across the country. You're probably wondering what are we listening to? Well it's the American Library Association's, Youth Media Awards, the librarians equivalent to the Oscars.

Sadly I have never attended one of the early morning ceremonies.  I've always listened online and screamed with delight when some of my favorites are recognized for their efforts to provide great reading books for children and young adults.

I spent about an hour online ordering books that either won awards or were related to books that I have not read this past year.  Yes, I blew my book buget for the month!  The following is a list of books that I ordered during that first hour after the ceremony.  I'm too embarrassed to tell you how many more books I have ordered since then. 

Here's the actual video from the awards ceremony.  Enjoy!

2015 American Library Association Youth Media Awards Press Conference:
http://youtu.be/M-ruMCY0EFQ

Fall Book Displays

Here's some pictures of my Fall Book Displays!  The Hip-Hop Reader Dolls are the creation of Rose Culley, owner of Marie's Balloons of Park Forest, Illinois.   Also, you will see a picture of me trying to present like Vanna White.  The back story of that book display is I snatched the branches from the Phillips High School trees in the teacher parking lot.  Hey, I wanted the display to look authentic.
 

My Circulation Desk

I just love the hat!

Check out the earrings!!!

There's no excuse, you can find something to read in the Library Media Center

A simple display on the coffee table

Branch Out....Read Something New

Pinterest is my best friend.  If you look carefully, you will see the branches.

My 'ole school' vampire display

The teeth

How many 'ole school' vampires can you identify on this picture?

Providing the Service That Counts

     Three years ago I posted a very personal presentation describing, "Why I Am A Librarian". Three years later with school libraries under attack, I felt it was time to update the presentation.  Often times I'm so busy with my students, books and learning/applying new technologies,  I don't articulate well what I do.  I'm guilty....I do a very poor job describing accurately what I do with print and non-print material.  Along with encouraging the love of reading, my job now consists of using technology to instruct, create and enhance lessons taught in the classroom.

That's me reviewing my students
'Behind the Paws' Twitter Activity

     Honestly, if you were to pass by my Library Media Center doors during the day you will think that all I do is sit behind my desk.  Not true, that glance of me behind the desk is only a snapshot of the numerous tasks that I complete in a day, week and month!   "School Library Media Specialists:  Providing the Service That Counts" accurately describes the work I do every day through technology supporting my fellow Library Media Specialists and serving the students and staff at my school.   If you would like to view the videos from some of the slides, just copy and paste the website address from the presentation into the address bar and the video will load.
     I am a school Library Media Specialist and I love what I do!

School Library Media Specialists: Providing the Service That Counts from K.C. Boyd

CPS Tech Talk - Part II

     I have been giving presentations for years at the local, state and national level.  I've always checked and re-checked my bag to make sure that I had all of my presentation aides and materials.  Unfortunately this time and with the slip of the fingers,  I uploaded the wrong presentation and had to go off of 'my memory' to complete my second presentation of the day.  Believe me this was not a good move as my memory is extremely poor!
     With that said, here is the presentation that should have been uploaded to my slideshare cloud account and presented to the attendees who came to my session.  Hopefully you will enjoy the presentation and recognize that school librarians are already implementing Common Core Standards in their daily lessons.  Just remember to share the AASL Crosswalk for Common Core with your principal, use some of the resources provided in the presentation and take a deep breath.  It's going to take a minute for all of the members of the learning community to understand your role and the indelible impact you will make on student achievement through Common Core.

Common Core Standards, Technology and the School Library Media Specialist from K.C. Boyd

Overdue Library Books

Librarians have you ever said this phrase, "Just bring them back"?

I'm so happy that my students are checking out books regularly from the Library Media Center. The major problem is that they are so slow in returning their books. One of the reasons I learned why books are grossly overdue is that the books checked out by students are often times read by other members of the family that live in the same home. This wonderful because as a school librarian, I want to spread the love of reading, but I still need the books returned by the end of the year for inventory.  Recently I encouraged three of my students to create a commercial that emphasizes bringing overdue books back to the Library Media Center.

Just sharing one of my many ways of getting all the books back before the end of the school year. Wish me luck as I begin this journey of collecting back books from the 2012-2013 school year.

 
Just Bring Them Back! from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.