good reads

as a teacher during the holidays, i have to admit my favorite gift is not the five pounds of peppermint bark or the christmas plate with stand.  rather, it is anything bookish.  gift cards to large retail bookstores or just the time to peruse and support the local indie bookshops; the small well-inventoried corners where you can easily lose three hours making piles and perusing everything from cookbooks and coffeetable art to young adult fiction and poetry.  "can i help you?"  they will ask.  "yes, i'd like one of everything please."  i've been amazed at how turning off the television and reading has improved my mental capacity for memory, connections and creativity.  alot of my students are excited about reading as well.  i have one young lady in seventh grade who is reading way beyond a high school level.  it is not uncommon for her to come up to me, as she did last week, and say, "miss smith, i read the scarlet letter last night".  after i recover my composure, i ask her what's next.  "my dad and i are going to the bookstore again.  have you heard of goodreads.com?"  she asks.  the tables are turned.  instead of her completing a worksheet, i am grabbing note paper to write down resources.  our city is alive with love of reading. i went to a small art gallery space to see work by the street artist known as "The Reader" who, using everything from old sheet metal to recycled newspaper bins, has created an installment about reading more.  i have to say i love living in a city where a street artist can get a gallery space, where there are still independent bookstores and where people make the time for good reads.