Welcome to the Lazy Readers' Book Club, your reading time manager!
This is where you go when you want to read quality books that don't take years to finish. My mission is to increase interest in reading by providing cool, short book recommendations for all ages. From interest comes devotion.
As teachers, parents or whatever state we find ourselves in, we often cannot find time to read for fun, and I think it is important that our children see us reading for pleasure. Therefore, each month I provide book recommendations that are quick and easy to read for personal pleasure. I try not to include any books over 250 pages, and I always include books written for a variety of ages (don't be shy about reading kids' books, though; they are my favorites because they generally have shorter chapters, bigger print and colorful pictures).
I hope you find a few moments to enjoy these quick reads in September:
I just began taping the first episodes of my local TV show People Make a Difference, which highlights the positive contributions of people in my community. In this book famous clothing designer Cole has collected 90 stories from various authors that should inspire people from all walks to get out and make the world a better place. I love books like this.
As summer winds down I thought it would be fun to include a title for you to delight in others’ misery. Torkells is the editor of Budget Travel magazine, and this collection of anecdotes submitted by readers range from outrageous toimprobable, sometimes dull to mostly hilarious. A good way to end one’s day.
One of my goals for my students is that they look at various points of view. I don’t ask them to agree with any points of view; I want them to think critically. This is the perfect book for asking students to re-examine 9/11 from various perspectives. Hamid has created a deeply moving story that is the perfect antidote to the mindless squawking of television politico-shock jocks.
Best book I have read in years for reluctant teen boys. This one gripped me in the same way as S.E. Hinton did with The Outsiders. I am now anxious to read McGowan’s previous young adult novels – he is not to be missed.
I forgot all about this short classic. Definitely a hit with girl readers, as it chronicles the story of a 12-year-old girl in search of her real mother. One of the few books with a girl main character that does not totally annoy boys.
This was not what I expected. It is funny (like I thought) in parts, but it is largely a story that makes for great classroom discussions on animal welfare and tough decisions. Really good for fifth and sixth graders, as we talk about a girl's intentions and consequences of taking in stray squirrels.
There is something that draws teens to books that are written from multiple points of view. I remember actually enjoying Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying when I was in high school simply because it shifted gears from chapter to chapter (and it includes one of the shortest chapters of any book I have ever read). This is Leveen’s first novel, but his involvement in theatre is apparent in the vivid teen characters he creates here.
Dant touches me with this book of poems about the members of her family. Absolutely beautiful illustrations by Eric Velasquez. This is the kind of book I buy multiple copies of for students, as it emphasizes love and kindness.
I think I am on an illustrator kick this month, as I selected this month’s children’s books for the illustrations just as much as the stories. Mike Reed’s pictures remind me of Quentin Blake’s work for my favorite Roald Dahl books. Third graders enjoy the short chapters and sometimes longer (more challenging) sentences in this fun tale about the experiences of two dogs (Down Girl and Sit, respectively) as they visit a ranch.
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Hi folks! Did summer slip away that quickly? I feel old sending my own children to school. My kids have been allowing me to read longer chapter books to them lately, and I now understand the infatuation with The Magic Tree House series. They make for very easy and compelling read alouds.
I’ve managed to scour through my typical eclectic mix of titles. Enjoyed some easy reading from first time authors Celeste Friedman (Single 101: 101 Reasons to Celebrate Being Single) and Robert Bedick (Tomas); tried to motivate myself to get in better shape with Frank Suarez’s The Power of Your Metabolism; delighted in Steve Shreve’s great book for middle-school boys, The Adventures of Benny (which I cannot find on Amazon, but it is available on Barnes & Noble); and also got a kick out of Tim Delaney’s Seinology: The Sociology of Seinfeld.
Anyhow, enjoy this month’s book selections. I hope you are all reading some wonderful books. Make sure to tell me all about them. If you're an author or a publisher and would like to send me review copies of your book(s), please send them to:
Dr. Danny Brassell
CSUDH, COE 1440
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA90747
I make every effort to read everything that is sent to me (as a matter of fact, I am always more likely to mention books that are sent to me…hint, hint).
PLEASE NOTE: I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RE-DESIGNING THE WEBSITE SO THAT I CAN RESUME E-MAILING FREE MONTHLY BOOK PICKS TO SUBSCRIBERS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.
Some folks take offense that I call this site the "Lazy" Readers' Book Club. I know many of us are avid readers. This site is for everyone who doesn't have time to read thicker books but still have a hunger to read some quality literature. What bothers me is that there are only 24 hours in a day, and hectic schedules often prevent us from one of life's greatest pleasures: reading. By the way: people who read more become better readers, and my experiences have shown me that people who reader shorter books eventually gravitate to longer ones. Indeed, even I find the time to read lengthier books, now that I have developed a taste for shorter ones.
Remember, books and other items purchased from Amazon.com through links from the lazyreaders.com website will directly benefit BookEnds (http://www.bookends.org), a nonprofit organization devoted to increasing children's access to books and community service awareness. All you have to do is visit our website, click on Amazon, and Amazon will donate up to 10 percent of your total purchase to BookEnds. Visitors to our site who have used this feature have already raised a lot of money for this wonderful cause. Keep it up!
Every day I receive emails from people who want to be sent this list of monthly book picks. If you know anybody who would like to be included on the list, ask them to register at our website link, http://lazyreaders.com/contact.html, to receive my monthly recommendations. If you want to be removed from this list, please just say so. I promise that I will never forward anything but my monthly book picks. That's the honest truth - no mortgage rate ads or promises to help you lose 10 lbs. in three hours. I'll just send book recommendations once a month.
Please remember to read for fun and to read to your children, and e-mail me any short books that you'd like to have considered for our lists.
