Page 3 - General

Maura Jortner is an author, educator, theatre extraordinaire, former puppeteer, lover of Disney World and Dole Whip, a mother, a wife, and an inspiring advocate for kindness. She is currently a literature and creative writing professor at Baylor University, holding both a bachelor's degree and master’s degree in literature, and a PhD in theatre history. During Maura’s interview, she explores the autonomy of names and identity, encourages us to look for a hidden figure on her book cover, and gets real about the messiness of life, love, family, and companionship.

“We all mess up from time to time,” Maura said. “We all make mistakes, and that’s just what makes us human, however, we must also repair our mistakes and fix what we have broken. That’s another part of being human: we must work to make things right.”

Read on to learn more about a special Cat-and-Mouse game, the life rule that Maura lives by, and why middle school novels deserve to be filled with difficult—yet authentic—themes...

Throughout elementary and middle school, I read nearly every title written by Margaret Peterson Haddix, so having the opportunity to sit down with my literary hero over coffee was naturally the best day of my life. When I met Margaret, she ordered an iced chai latte and immediately commented on the beautiful, summer weather that Ohio was producing. Everything about her screamed “author,” like the way she thoughtfully answered my questions, or the way she’d stop to think about her words and speak them in a calm, cool, and collected manner. She was humble, and loving, and cared deeply for the human spirit. “If kids are going through hard times themselves,” Margaret said, “I hope that this book can be healing for them to read.”

I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed speaking with Margaret, because getting to know more about her outlook on time travel, her Lego-piecing method for constructing a character, or the way she cares tirelessly for the middle school (and human)...

July is known as Disability Pride Month because it marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This law is meant to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and discourage discrimination, however, people are still marginalized for their abilities or limitations. To help combat ableism and injustice, librarians across the nation strive to make a safe space where all people and communities can see themselves embodied in literature. Inclusivity is imperative—especially in libraries—and that is why JLG makes a deliberate effort to pick award-winning books that celebrate and honor the whole spectrum of abilities.

If your collection needs ability-representative literature, look no further—we have a great list down below—and we’re here to give you a few ideas on how to keep your library inclusive for all of your readers, patrons, and staff!

Tip #1: Audit Your Collection for Cultural Relevance

Reviewing and analyzing your library collection is a huge—yet...

 Summertime is HERE, and that means summer reading is well underway. While some readers are laying by the pool with their books, or taking their favorite stories to barbecues and picnics, we know that other students might need a little extra encouragement. In recently released data from NAEP, the number of students who read daily for fun are at an all-time low; only 14% of students reported reading for fun almost every day. This statistic is alarming, especially when there are so many great summer reads to go around! If your students or patrons are having a difficult time picking up a book, they might need an extra reminder as to why reading for pleasure is so impactful to their overall growth and success.

BONUS: Score JLG’s Summer Must-Read List—categorized by grade level—down below!

Reading Aids Early Development and Continued Academic Success

Reading has the power to transform lives, and research proves that children who start reading at an early age build important social-emotional...