BLOGS > FEBRUARY 3, 2025
We believe school breaks provide a great opportunity to get lost in a good story. Which is why this month's featured team members, who support our summer reading initiatives, are sharing the titles they're currently devouring. Here's What We're Reading:
By Ariel Aberg-Riger
Reviewed by Rayna York, Titlewave and Sales Support Manager
“Ariel Aberg-Riger’s book offers a fresh perspective on American history, blending visual art with concise historical summaries. Focusing on significant moments from the 1800s to today, the book highlights history’s interconnected nature. Its engaging ‘then vs now’ visuals and thought-provoking insights invite us to explore the cyclical themes of progress and repetition and make history feel accessible.”
About Rayna
Rayna is the Manager of the Titlewave and Sales Support Specialists teams at Follett Content, where she’s worked since 2016. Starting her journey as a Titlewave Support Specialist, she has a passion for engaging with customers and solving challenges related to library and classroom needs. She takes great pride in helping both the Sales team and her own team deliver exceptional service to customers. Rayna resides in McHenry, Illinois, with her husband and two rescue dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafting, going to the movies (always reading the book first!), traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family. She’s passionate about contributing to the education of future generations.
By Liz Moore
Reviewed by Mark Perugini, Inventory Program Analyst
“The God of the Woods is about the disappearance of a girl from summer camp that mirrors the unsolved case of her brother’s disappearance years prior. It takes place in the Adirondacks, and is told from multiple points of view, giving different insights into the situation, which has made it a fun and challenging read so far.”
About Mark
Mark was born and raised in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and now resides in Waukesha. He’s a proud parent to two wonderful children – Brennan, 23, who works in adventure sports in Park City, Utah, and Olivia, 20, a hairstylist who lives nearby. He also shares his home with Puma, a 7-year-old Shih Tzu-Cocker Spaniel mix. Outside of work, he’s a high school soccer coach, where he finds joy mentoring student-athletes and making a positive impact in their lives. He also enjoys golfing, reading, and spending time with his girlfriend, Melissa. He’s been with Follett Content for nine months and is excited for the future, eager to continue helping provide reading opportunities for young people.
Change Your Words, Change Your Life
By Joyce Meyer
Reviewed by Brenda Noll, Customer Service Manager
“This book focuses on the power of words and how what you say and how you say it can have a significant impact on any conversation you have. A few of my favorite quotes from this book are:
About Brenda
Brenda was born and raised in the tiny town of Sanborn, Iowa, located way in the upper northwest corner of the state. Married with three children, she’s also the proud grandmother of eight, the oldest being 11 and the youngest being four. She cherishes her time with her grandchildren and is a true green and gold Green Bay Packers fan. She’s been with Follett Content for 27 years and is proud to have seen firsthand what the company does for education.
Looking for book lists for your students? These best new books were selected by our team of teachers and librarians to keep students engaged with the latest new titles.
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High-Interest Books: Maximize Them!
May 1, 2025
As educators we recognize that we have reluctant readers no matter what grade we teach. In our hearts we desperately want those students to enjoy reading and not see it as a daunting task. A reluctant reader is not always...
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Celebrating 100 Years of The Great Gatsby
April 22, 2025
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby recently marked its 100th anniversary on April 10, with festivities held around the globe – from St. Paul, Minnesota, where Fitzgerald was born, to the French Riviera, where he completed his iconic novel. But...
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What We're Reading - May 2025 Edition
April 22, 2025
Each month, What We’re Reading features reflections on current reads from Follett Content team members. It’s a blog where our collective lifelong love of reading takes center stage! This month, we’re highlighting three amazing team members who help you analyze your...
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History, Part 4: Putting the Maker into Our [Library] Space!
April 16, 2025
Steve Gagnon, DLS, and Ashley Healey, LMS, are the dynamic duo of Stratham Memorial School’s newly rolled out “Learning Commons Program.” With a combined 45 years in education, they have seen the evolution of Makerspace culture and have dabbled with...
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You've Been Book'd! Choice Boards from Shannon McClintock Miller
April 1, 2025
We love the Choice Boards Teacher Librarian Shannon McClintock Miller creates! If you missed any, explore Shannon’s curated collections below and discover new favorites for your students on a variety of topics.Books to Celebrate the SummerArtificial IntelligenceChildren's Book Week 2025Earth...
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Pippa Park Books Come to Life in New Video Series!
March 31, 2025
Middle graders aren’t reading for pleasure like they used to, and educators, booksellers, and families want a solution to get them excited about reading and sharing stories with their peers again. One part of such a solution is to meet...
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