Ineffable: what makes a good book to yours Drewly

I would like to take some time and space on my blog to reflect on what makes a book good, especially a kids, youth or YA book to yours Drewly.

First off  Please read this New Yorker article on what makes a children's book "good"

I agree that there are two popular schools of thought on the matter. The content camp and the results camp. The Content camp is stuck with the belief that good book for children being somehow instructive or nutritive, often morally so. 

Another part of the content camp is the psychological value that the content minded people push for, while more substantially non instructive, there is still clinging to the idea that there must be some positive value gain from the content of the book.


The other camp that often has more members, is the results camp. Results” can range from book sales (“Goosebumps,” in that case, would definitely be good) to making a child laugh (any book written by Jon Scieszka would loudly ring that bell) to life impact of a story.

These two children's book quality criteria camps, like the nature side versus the nurture side of that debate are often struck and stay stubborn, remaining unmoving impervious, unchanging despite the overwhelming evidence and support for the crucial need for construction for a bridge for the nonsensical gap between the two schools of thought.

I like Gidwitz in the article linked to above, follow the prophet Walt Whitman: I contain multitudes, and I contradict myself whenever I choose to. In the case of determining quality in children’s books, I have two answers, I want to bridge that thinking gap.

 Gidwitz hits it right on with "We give children’s shoes to children because they fit children’s feet. And why would we denigrate a waltz that can only be danced to? Children, in particular, are made to dance." We all need to dance, explore, create and enjoy life more, and an easy way to do that is to read or be read to and encourage others to do the same for books that interest them, at any age.

As Gidwitz says, "Kids will like a book with a great story. But they will only love a book that makes them see the world in a new way." The impact and the change a book makes in anyones life is the best way to gauge if a book is good for anyone. 

What is important is that kids are reading, and anything we can do as adults to keep them reading is the what we are called to do. 

Who is to say the true value of a book, the true quality of a book, certainly publishers cant be, certainly authors cant be, that leaves us avid and caring readers.
But you don't ever have to take my word for it.

What makes a book worthy or worth reading for you?

My Bookselling, a reflection

My Bookselling, a reflection

Looking back I remember growing up around captivating books, magical and real stories of all kinds, and parents who encouraged my imagination and wild creativity.

I was always caught up by sage sayings, surrounded by the genius of others.

I saw myself as a writer ever since I could write back in kindergarten. But I have since learned the difficulties, the stress, the deadlines, and the loneliness of writing.

I remember thinking librarians were always old ladies who loved to shush people and allow others to take books for free and really only offer their worn out advice. I later learned that librarians could be much more dynamic, in time with current and ever new realities. In library graduate school I learned a lot of intricacies, details, and behind the scenes work and little understood procedures and even less well known responsibilities and grunt work job duties. Each of these added to make libraries less attractive to me. Even with all the perks and positives, library school taught me transferable skills and above all the harsh realities of librarianship.

On the other hand Bookselling, to me was always more mysterious and magical than other book related careers. Over the years before me Bookselling career I have see bookselling remain a constants honorable and esteemed career choice. While others see it as simply book peddling or book hawking I see it as empowering and relationship building. I have always had a deep respect for people who are both of and for books. I have a special place in my heart for book love and all things books and reading, this passion/obsession has only grown since I have starting working as a bookseller.   

When I started my Bookselling career 6 and a half years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. Oh, the many songs of the ignorance of inexperience. In my first years of working at and with Reach and Teach, I first experienced the flame of salesmanship and out of the resulting inner fire, my drive for Bookselling was hatched like a Phoenix in earnest. It was there and then I first experienced the warmth and glow of sharing my understandings of products and especially books with all customers new guests and loyal customers, unhappy people  and joyous customers alike.

Serving the public and selling to all identities and communities from both local and visiting publics is a blessing, an honor and a privilege only few of us choose to experience day in and day out.

As my knowledge and passion grew so did my skill sets and “expertise” for children’s and young adult literature. From my studies and all my experiences as a bookseller have vaulted me into a lovely calling.

It was first felt during my time with Reach and Teach back in 2011 that what I was doing might be something more than a job. My bookselling might be a calling towards creativity, a ministry of magical books after all.

SInce I have had five and a half years of mostly magical work and stunningly surprising service to the book minded, book souled and book hearted people of the bay area. I thank everyone that has worked with me, everyone who i have worked with, and every person I had the privilege of serving. I have no idea how many people I have influenced suffice it to say regardless of number what means the most is personal impact.  I have learned more in the five and a half years as a bookseller then I did in my over 8 years of undergrad college experiences.

I offer my newest poem as a reflection on the first five years of my bookselling career. Here’s to many, many, many more years of serving everyone’s imagination and inspiring the lives of all I serve!

Bookseller panache

Henceforth may you gather and gain

the wild panache of Cyrano himself

embodied in your own new bookseller form

clothed in your own stylish and abundant gifts

Shared amongst the shelves and cases

amidst all the stories and stages

of our lives and the lives of others

May you stay wholly new,

evermore..... your best self

May the magical power you gather and gain going forward,

Grow your passionate genius

to empower the imaginations as well as

Heal and strengthen the very lives of others