By Kitty Felde You might call them Book Clubs for Introverts. Imagine a room full of readers, sharing the experience of reading, but not talking. That’s the idea behind Silent Book Clubs. The rules are simple. There is no assigned reading, everyone brings whatever they want to read. Any format […]
Young Readers: Cliffhangers
by Kitty Felde It’s a gimmick as old as Scheherazade: leave your audience desperate to know what happens next. You know the tale of the beautiful Scheherazade. She married a Sultan who killed off his brides the day after the wedding. Clever girl, she brought her sister along with her […]
RhinoRAM: Children’s Cybersecurity Book Authored by SW Resident
By Southwester Staff The Southwester is proud to highlight artists, writers, and creators that live in the neighborhood and make our vibrant DC quadrant what it is. In this issue, we highlight Southwest resident Adom M. Cooper and congratulate him for the December 2023 publishing of a children’s cybersecurity book […]
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi Visits Jefferson Middle School Academy
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jidé George, Sanaa Wilson, and Kimberly-Celeste “K.C.” Boyd. Courtesy of the Author. By Matthew Koehler In January, Jefferson Middle School Academy welcomed guest author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi’s new book, Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers, tells the story of Oluale Kossola, who was a survivor of […]
Young Readers: Put Those Gift Cards to Good Use
By Kitty Felde It’s likely that among your children’s holiday gifts this year, there were more than a few gift cards. Left to their own devices, kids will head straight to the electronics store. But if there’s flexibility in what kids can spend their gift card money on, take them […]
Young Readers: Kids Can’t Keep their Hands Off these Giftable Books
By Kitty Felde Kids are reading less. A lot less. Just one in three children read every day for pleasure. According to the National Literacy Trust, daily reading by kids between ages eight and 18 has dropped 26 percent over the past two decades. Librarian Rebecca Opalka says she’s been […]
Young Readers: Bribes, Rewards, Incentives: Encouraging Readers By Any Means Necessary
By Kitty Felde Let’s say you’ve tried everything you can think of to get your reluctant reader to pick up a book. Now what? Here’s a suggestion from a librarian: bribe them. It doesn’t have to be much. Olineke Olaniya of the Indianapolis Public Library says she challenges young patrons […]