Dr Seuss once wrote, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!” Reading takes you on mental adventures when you yourself aren’t able to explore. Where else can you find yourself fighting an evil warlock, or amidst a revolution involving gods, demigods, and mortals? Where else will you be able to control lightning, or ride dragons to school instead of buses? What’s a better place to learn about Mahatma Gandhi’s life than his autobiography? Books can do all of this for us and more. We can find written heroes in between the lines of a book. A story is not a story without a plot line. With the plot line comes antagonists and protagonists. Readers can identify with certain characters within a book and learn about themselves along the way. Reading also provides insight on others’ lives as we take a step in characters’ shoes. We can learn about situations and events that we wouldn’t have even dreamed about in our own lives. Thanks to literature and their authors, people can grow intellectually and emotionally.

Redwings are fortunate to have an ever changing library that’s constantly updated with the newest books; thanks to Library Lady, Ms. Mariya Grabow. In the library, you can find an outstanding range of books. Whether you want to read tales of witches and wizards or expand your knowledge on the past 43 presidents, the library is the place to be. Unfortunately, some students haven’t quite yet found the pleasure in reading. In a verbal survey, two out of five students claimed they didn’t like to read. When this knowledge was shared with Ms. Grabow, she said, “I think if people do not like reading it is because they haven’t found the right book.  I don’t always like reading, and that typically happens when I am reading something that I just don’t care for.  I end up setting the book aside and rewatching a LOT of Madmen or Parks and Rec. Finding the right genre for you takes experimentation.” The journey to finding the right genre is worth it. Just take a look at bibliophilic Junior Kylie Mallmann. “I like reading because it is an escape from reality into a world where anything is possible. It is my stress free zone where I can just relax and read to my heart’s content.” Reading is often a de-stressor to many. It’s nice to be able to kick up your feet, with a hot cup of tea, and let your mind drift to another world as you open up a book. As the story unfolds, you may be able to find solutions to some of your own problems. As author Cassandra Clare wrote in her book, Clockwork Angel, “One must always be careful of books and what is inside of them, for words have the power to change us.” Books are an open window to bettering ourselves with each written word. Mallmann agrees people shouldn’t give up on finding what they like to read. “People should read because, first, most intelligence is from reading, where vocabulary is learned in a context that you are actually interested in. You get smarter, more creative, and can enjoy yourself as a character that you wouldn’t usually be.” The solution to finding a good book? Redwings can start by asking Grabow for recommendations. She is always up to a new challenge as she shares, “If one of YOUR friends hates to read, I challenge you to send them to me, ‘Ms. Grabow, The Library Lady and pusher of literature,’ and I will find them something that they may love. Our library is bursting with new books and old books, fiction and nonfiction.” So there it is, Redwings. A quick peek into the love of reading and what it can do for you. Set down your phone, get down to the library, and check out for yourselves, hopefully you’ll be able to check out a few items as well! For those who are already in love with reading, the Mead Public Library is searching for help to plan a book convention. The meeting for this is Tuesday, March 22nd at 6 P.M. in the Mead’s Teen Center. Happy Reading!

Photos by: Madisyn Riste