Oh, hello there.
I keep putting off posting this newsletter because I don’t know how. Too much time has passed. I have arrived at the party, and when I saw you, I did not immediately admit that I couldn’t remember your name. Now, too much time has passed, and it just feels awkward. I have to forge on and hope that someone else at this party uses your name soon, and then I can commit it to memory and pretend like I knew it all along.
Or I can just say, “Hey, remind me of your name again?” and stop agonizing over this whole thing. Remind me of your name? I’m Alexis. I think we met a little over a year ago? Yes! The one who loves reading kid lit and keeps on telling you which books your kids are going to love. That’s me! So good to see you again. I remember that you love to read too, right?
Great! Phew! That’s out of the way. Now let’s get down to it. Super glad you are here. Not exactly sure how to explain where I went, except to say that the internet is far too big and far too easy to get lost in and intimidated by. I probably have about 17 drafts in my draft folder, delving into different aspects of my psyche, trying to guess at and explain my absence. Feel free to hack into those and take a peek. It will be a guaranteed weird time.
More interesting is the question of what you have been reading during the time I was away! Did you get into any new subjects or obsessions at your house? Was your summer full of light-hearted romances, or are you more of a murder-murder-death kinda guy/gal?
Our updates in a nutshell: My oldest reads to himself now, and barely wants to have me read to him (cue the sad crying soundtrack). If I am reading aloud to his sister, he will be next to me, reading his own book, and then he will want to swap and read the one I just read. Veeeery independent. My littlest likes books that make her laugh, things that are spooky, and mostly wants to read one book on repeat all week long. “That one again? Are you sure?” is a common refrain. Personally, I’ve been striking out on lots of books I pick up, but I finally made it through some I’ve been meaning to finish. I’ll tell you all about it soon.
JUST ONE BOOK. What is that all about? It is my revamp of LibraryStax. In my last internet iteration I had all these ideas I was pouring into each post. I wanted it to have literary tips for readers and parents. I wanted to teach about the history of reading in our public school systems. I wanted to do a series (or ten). I wanted SO many things that I hit the overwhelm wall, and in the classic fight, flight, or freeze responses I have always, always, always been freeze. My old boss used to call it analysis paralysis.
A strategy I have found helps me when I hit the overwhelm wall is to simplify. If I can’t do it all, then at least I can do one thing. I still love reading kids’ literature. I still love the idea of recommending and sharing books we love. I love the idea of writing. I just want it to be less….structured. Less planned. Less of everything that was making it feel like a homework assignment I wasn’t completing very well or on time. I want to give because I want to give, not because I scheduled myself to.
I want to simplify so I can continue because life is busy, and maybe mine is too busy to even be doing this at all? But also, I miss it. I miss you. So, without further ado:
JUST ONE BOOK
SIMPLE PICTURES ARE BEST
by Nancy Willard, Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Very on theme for this post, this story is about an adorable and loving couple with an array of hobbies who decide they want to get a professional picture taken of themselves. What starts as a simple idea gets increasingly and ridiculously more difficult as the couple keeps on adding different things they feel they must include in the photograph to truly capture their best and truest selves. The exasperated photographer tries to remind them that simple pictures are best, while his mirthful assistant offers *helpful* suggestions. The resulting photograph is, I just realized while typing this, quite possibly a metaphorical representation of all the noise that can get in the way when we start to overthink the situation. But you’ve got to read the book to find out just exactly what happens in the end.
Read this book if you love a silly story with endearing characters, or are a fan of Tommie dePaola’s art. His ability to capture mischief and an almost tangible strudiness in his beloved characters (think of the iconic Strega Nona) is evident in this book as well. He so perfectly captures the earnestness of the couple getting their pictures, the mischief in the assistant, and the frustration of the photographer. You will love to love these illustrations.
It was recently picture day at school, which made me think of this book and of this picture-day picture from when my mom cut my hair basically in a bowl cut because it was the 90’s, a trying time for fashion, and because I hated to have my hair brushed. I *GET* it now in ways I never did before; just one of the many ways motherhood has expanded my life, knowledge, and understanding.
I cannot wait to share another book with you. I’ve got so many! But for now, I am going to take it one book at a time.
See you soon. Keep reading. Keep going to the parties. Ask for people’s names if you forget them, but only if you feel like it. I give you full permission to fake it until the party is over, and hope they didn’t remember yours either.
Whatever you do, try to remember, sometimes the best way is the simple way.
Until next time! xo
Simple Pictures looks so cute! My children love reading about mischief and shenanigans, so I’m adding this to our next library haul.
And I love your approach of sharing one book at a time!
Was so excited to see you in my inbox this morning, and love that you’re simplifying and streamlining! Here for it! Can’t wait to check out Simple Pictures.