Dear So and So

[redrhodie]

(((Limewave))) I hear ya! C'mon, economy!

Glad you got some sleep.

[channlluv]

Dear Today Show:

I'll admit it. I'm not a regular Today Show viewer. I'm a children's librarian and I spend every morning in an elementary school library reading great books aloud to some of the kids who are our nation's future. I also spend time helping kids choose books. "Miss Roxy, can you recommend a book for me?" I hear it all day long. The kids in my school are hungry - HUNGRY - for quality literature, and there are millions of kids just like them all over the country.

I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the ALA Youth Media Awards ceremony on Monday morning. I sat a few seats down from the brilliant and funny author Lisa Yee, whose books I regularly recommend, and to one of the most powerful publishers on the planet, Arthur Levine, who helped bring Harry Potter to American kids, among many other high quality literary works. I also sat next to a librarian from Pennsylvania who joked about not being in a big hurry to get back home to the snow. We talked about the books we enjoyed, and as the lights went down and the ceremony commenced, the energy in the room was one of excitement and anticipation. With each name that was called, there were cheers and hoots of joy. These people, these librarians, writers, editors, publishers -- these READERS -- they love their books. These are the people who are influencing America's future. These people. These wonderful, smart, funny, thoughtful, LITERATE people are the ones creating and promoting the books our children read.

Thank god.

What you did, to promote this trashy reality TV star and her faux book at the expense of sharing two new, wonderful, smart, funny, thoughtful, literate creators of high quality children's books is an act of aggressive stupidity. One that is more a reflection on you and your producers than the state of children's literature.

I'm still not going to watch your show. We only have so many minutes on the planet. Why in the world would I want to waste any of my precious minutes on someone like Snooki? No thanks. I'm going to go read Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, the 2011 Newbery Award Winner.


(I posted this on their viewer comments section, too, but I doubt anyone there actually cares enough to read those comments.)

[Crankin]

She's just making the rounds of all of the shows... i think she's gross, but I love the Today show. I just don't get so excited about who is on what. I'm a former English teacher, so I understand what you mean about quality children's lit.
I feel out of it, because I no longer know what is "in" middle school lit.

[indysteel]

Dear Dad,

I suppose it's just swell that you want to help your dysfunctional daughter through yet another of her crises. That's awfully fatherly of you, but she's not a part of my life for a reason, so it's irritating when you call me repeatedly for guidance as to her latest bankruptcy case. Given that's my expertise, however, I am willing to help, so that's not what's bugging me.

What's most upsetting me is that it's the only reason you ever even call me. You never call just to talk to me about me. It's always been pretty obvious that you and mom only really pay attention when there's a crisis. And because I rarely, if ever, have a crisis, guess who doesn't ever get any attention?

Now I wouldn't trade my relatively sane life for anything, but it would be nice if recognized in your advancing years how much you've played into your elder daughter's emotional problems by enabling and encouraging her behavior. I will not stoop to her level, however, just to get your attention.

I thought about calling you back last night and telling you how hurtful your lack of attention is, but really, what's the point? I'll just talk to my therapist about it. Again. And get a hug from Brian. For better or for worse, I'm beyond letting you know that I actually need you. It just hurts to much to tell you that and to still be ignored. You'd probably take it okay, but Mom would see it as yet another opportunity to tell me that she's just never felt like I wanted a mother. That so turns parenting on its ear and distorts our family's history; I'm not going to go there again.

So have fun with the time and energy suck that is my sister. Let me know where it gets you.