RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

SATURDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS

Just as Saturday Mornings on TV programming back in the 50s and 60s was dedicated to its younger viewers, showing cartoons from 6:30 am until 9:30 am, so PWR dedicates its Saturday Morning post to its younger readers.

Nadia the Willful by Sue Alexander, illustrated by Lloyd Bloom is a quiet little book dealing with anger, grief, and loss. Nadia is the daughter of Bedouin sheik, Tarik. Even as a young child, she is angry and acts out to get attention. Only her eldest brother, Hamid, could calm her. When Hamid travels out into the desert and does not return, Nadia and her father go into a deep depression. Tarik decrees that no one shall ever again mention Hamid’s name or speak of him, thinking the hurt is too great to be reminded of his son.

Nadia not only ignores her father’s decree, she spoke to everyone of his deeds and his personality, flaunting her father’s wishes. How she finally breaks through her father’s grief and restores Hamid’s memory to her family is the story enacted by a brave, willful girl. The life lessons in the story are profound and important for all who are experiencing or have experienced loss and death of a loved one. A lovely book for sharing a conversation with a grieving child, Alexander’s pensive book is a must-read for grandparents or parents to read to their little ones.

A paperback signed copy of this book will be given away to a name drawn from those who comments on this review. Limited to the US. Expiration date October 6th, 2023. Please include an address or email address in your comment/reply so that if your name is drawn, I can mail the book to you.

Rae 9/22/2023

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2 responses to “SATURDAY MORNINGS FOR KIDS”

  1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz Avatar
    Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

    This is a new-to-me book.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      By default (Yours was the only comment–LOL) you win a copy of this book to put in your Little Free Library. Congratulations! I will give you your book when I next see you.

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