I tiptoe back onto Facebook only rarely anymore. It has a really weird algorithm that only lets me see entries by the same 25 people and half of that content results in an uninspired oversharing of the same stupid memes revealing that many American adults have yet to master THERE, THEIR and THEY’RE. Also, why do I need to see so many ads for women wearing “the wrong kind of bra”?

I’ve learned, however, that regardless of politics or religious beliefs, most people can’t resist nostalgia and will readily share views on their favorite childhood cartoon or the sort of lunch box they carried in 2nd grade. They want to reminisce about ice cream flavors or their first summer job. These topics are typically devoid of the conflict that causes people to choose sides and it would take a very special moron to try and incite a FB argument over “DRESSING or STUFFING: A Thanksgiving Conundrum”.

So a few weeks ago, I asked my Facebook “friends” to sign in with the Newbery Award winning title (a children’s literature award, for the uninformed) from the year they were born. While I enjoyed reading the answers, the totally unlooked for bonus in this endeavor was the way their comments nudged me into rediscovering books whose titles I remembered seeing in the school library as a young kid and then immediately passed over in order to re-read the Little House books or HARRIET THE SPY. I was nothing if not a creature of habit. However, my boyfriend Amazon.com helped me turn back time a little and now I have at least a dozen titles I’m plowing through and I’m loving every minute.

I stand before you unashamed to say that I have spent the last couple of weeks fully immersed in THIMBLE SUMMER and MISS HICKORY. I spent an entire afternoon reading THE SATURDAYS and GONE AWAY LAKE. I have learned the difference between Newbery and a Newbery Honors and, honestly, they’re all pretty amazing. I rediscovered that the chops it takes to write for children require the same talent as it does to write for adults. Possibly more. This is the part of my post where I invite you to find that book nerd deep (or not so deep) inside you.

What was the Newbery award winner for the year you were born? Mine was THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. Are there any other books that spoke to you back then? This forum is now open for discussion.

It’s good to be back.