As a kid, I always had my nose stuck in a book. I read on the bus on the way to school, at school after I finished my work, and—my favorite— curled up in bed on Saturday mornings.
As an adult, I earned a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of North Texas. I worked in a public library for 5 years, where one of my responsibilities was selecting materials for the youth collections. It was by far my favorite part of the job, and I took it very seriously. My efforts paid off, and the collection was frequently complimented by the community I served. During that time I wrote a book blog called Spine Label (long since archived), where I rhapsodized over my favorite picture books and cataloged my thoughts on every book I read.
These days I’m a mom of three and experiencing kid lit from an entirely different angle. As a librarian I know not all picture books are created equal. As a parent, I know how full life can be, and taking the time to curate your child’s TBR pile probably isn’t going to make the cut. I also have the privilege of raising neurodivergent children; reading together has been recommended over and over again to support their needs around speech impairment and dyslexia. I started this newsletter as a way to help parents and caregivers easily find the good books, the ones you and your kids want to read again and again (and again).
Every morning at 9 am Central, I send out a recommendation for a good book for kids 0-10. If I don’t love it, it’s not going into the newsletter! I look for a balance of new releases that you probably haven’t read yet, backlist titles that might be on the shelf at your local library (no holds required), and diverse books (because your family’s bookshelf should reflect the real world).
Why subscribe?
Paid Subscriber benefits
a daily kidlit rec in your in-box, every morning
weekly themed booklists
monthly update on what I’m reading when I’m not reading to my kids
my unending gratitude for your support
Free subscriber benefits
a daily kidlit rec in your in-box, every morning
Publishers
Review copies can be sent to:
Julia Garza
PO Box 201303
Austin, TX 78720
