One True Way, by Shannon Hitchcock

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for Sept. 5, 2025 is One True Way, by Shannon Hitchcock.

Character education : Books about Respect

When talking about “Respect,” an important place to start is with our own self-esteem. Here are several books from SRCSA library that support readers respecting and appreciating themselves.
https://youtu.be/h1jAQhX_Ulk

The Parker Inheritance, by Varian Johnson

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for Aug. 22, 2025 is The Parker Inheritance, by Varian Johnson.

Warrior Girl, by Carmen Tafolla

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for Aug. 15, 2025 is Warrior Girl, by Carmen Tafolla.

Mascot, by Waters and Sorell (eBook preview)

Presenting … First-chapter Friday, the eBook edition. The July 18 selection features Mascot, by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell.

International Non-Binary People’s Day (Reading from Jamie, by L.D. Lapinski)

To commemorate International Non-Binary People’s Day — celebrated each year on July 14 — here is a reading from Jamie by L.D. Lapinski. Jamie Rambeau loves hanging out with their two best friends, Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that their local middle schools separate students into a school for boys and a school for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. Where does Jamie, a non-binary student, fit in? Whichever of their friends Jamie chooses to go to school with, the other will have to navigate a new middle school on their own.
https://youtu.be/ysMNkOxQSEk

Same Page, by Elly Swartz

This book raises a lot of valuable points about the importance of offering diverse books that can serve a diverse readership.

One example is when Bess’s friend June dismissed the removal of books from the vending machine. June proposed a list of replacement books, and Bess pointed out the books June was proposing weren’t the same kinds of books as the books that were removed from the vending machine.

June asked Bess, “Why do you even care so much? I mean, most of the books that were pulled aren’t even about kids like us.”

Authors and librarians are NOT groomers

Amid ever-increasing incidents of book challenges, I’m worried by inflammatory rhetoric that portrays librarians and authors as “groomers” of young people. Speaking as someone who survived an attempt at grooming, I consider this characterization to be vile and obscene.
https://youtu.be/SPMmEs7KdGM

Book haul : Open Books donation to SRCS libraries

Santa Rosa City Schools recently accepted a donation of books from an organization called Open Books: 12 books apiece to each of 10 elementary-school libraries for a total donation of 120 books. Among highlights this week in SRCSA library, I unboxed my site’s new arrivals.
https://youtu.be/BTaCegGw_Eg

The Shape of Lost Things, by Sarah Everett

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for May 9, 2025 is The Shape of Lost Things, by Sarah Everett.

Asking for a Friend (eBook preview)

Presenting … First-chapter Friday, the eBook edition. This month’s selection features Asking for a Friend, by Ronnie Riley.

The Flicker, by H.E. Edgmon

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for May 2, 2025 is The Flicker, by H.E. Edgmon.

Black Boy Joy (B.B. Alston)

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for April 25, 2025 is Black Boy Joy featuring contributor B.B. Alston.

Lola, by Karla Arenas Valenti

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for April 18, 2025 is Lola, by Karla Arenas Valenti.

Representing the Spectrum : Journal article live

If you view my posts regularly, you may recall a presentation that Professor Amanda Harrison and I made in Lexington, Ky., regarding the ways that autistic people are portrayed in children’s choice book award nominees. Professor Harrison also invited me to co-write an article (along with Andrea Dyche, LCSW, LSCSW). The presentation and article involved several months’ work and the article has now been posted to the Journal of Radical Librarianship.

Representing the Spectrum, Autism in the United States Children’s Choice Book Award Nominees, 2014-2024
https://journal.radicallibrarianship.org/index.php/journal/article/view/124

Asexuality Visibility Day (Reading from Rick, by Alex Gino)

To commemorate Asexuality Visibility Day — celebrated each year on April 6 — here is a reading from Rick by Alex Gino.

Rick’s never questioned much. He’s gone along with his best friend, Jeff, even when Jeff’s acted like a bully and a jerk. He’s let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn’t given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out.

But now Rick’s gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school’s Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that . . . understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones.
https://youtu.be/Idb2BCzSZpI

Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution (eBook preview)

Presenting … First-chapter Friday, the eBook edition. This month’s selection features Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution, by Sherri Winston.

Cruzita and the Mariacheros, by Ashley Granillo

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for April 4, 2025 is Cruzita and the Mariacheros, by Ashley Granillo.

Character education: Books about Courage

SRCSA’s character-education focus for April 2025 is “Courage.” Here are several books that support the theme of courage.
https://youtu.be/m7d5IQkncmY

The Creativity Project (Larson and Rhodes)

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for March 28, 2025 is The Creativity Project featuring contributors Kirby Larson and Jewell Parker Rhodes.