Maryland Media Specialists Recommend!
What We Read, Listen to, and Enjoy
Recommendations from Culture-Consuming Media Specialists
Whether you’re a curl-up-in-a-cozy-chair-don’t bug-me reader, an earphone-wearing podcast devotee, a lounge-chair movie lover, or a fan of Kendrick, Dolly, Taylor, or Wolfgang, we all want summer to bring us some quiet time to ourselves. We didn’t have room for all the great suggestions, but remember that your library media specialist has a great bead on what’s happening in literature and more.
CONSENSUS!
Kayla McShea, Tracy Papinchock, and Rob Mauro all recommended The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
Here’s what Anne Arundel County’s Rob Mauro said about it: “Childhood is in a state of significant upheaval, ask any educator. The current cocktail of smartphones, social media, and misguided helicopter parenting has led to a childhood experience parents cannot identify with or anticipate. Mr. Haidt does not solely frighten readers with the unknown consequences of permitting children to be subsumed in the virtual world, he also offers proactive solutions to help parents, children, and educators navigate our modern world.” See more recommendations from Kayla, Tracy, and Rob below.
Paul Lemle MSEA President (Guest recommendations)
BOOK We Have Never Been Woke by Musa Al-Gharbi. It challenges liberal elites to live their values and take action to benefit the poor and disadvantaged, instead of hypocritically hiding behind public signals and statements. The book is an easy and interesting read, but it will make you angry regardless of your political inclinations!
PODCAST Reinventing Solidarity is a union-focused podcast and up to about 50 episodes now; it began in September 2020 with the question of whether the Black Lives Matter movement and labor were working at cross purposes.
Keila Foster Northwestern HS, Prince George’s County
BOOK I’ll be reading The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. I have heard life-changing results about it.
PODCAST In one favorite episode of Life Kit, psychologist Zorana Ivcevic Pringle says creativity isn’t a trait, it’s a choice—something you can foster and prioritize.
MUSIC NPR Tiny Desk Concert Series Recorded live at NPR headquarters. It allows me to feel like I am at a concert and they record many of my favorite artists.
TV Maryland Public Television is a pure gem. HBCU Week NOW offers films about the under-told stories of HBCU graduates and their contributions to civil rights, the arts, culture, and sports! Outdoors Maryland captures thought-provoking stories about our region’s collection of ecosystems, people, and places. The show’s beautiful photography and thoughtful scripting capture Maryland’s stunning beauty.
Amy Young-Buckler Meade Heights ES, Anne Arundel County
MUSIC I’m planning to introduce my 15 year-old to 1970s glam rock this summer! My favorites are T. Rex, Sweet, and Slade.
BOOK I’ll be finishing up all of the books in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn! I just finished Eloise’s story and am moving on
to Francesca’s story.
WEBSITE Nancy Bailey’s Education Website (nancybailey.com) and I want to get caught up with all of the great new materials at my subscription to Choice Literacy (choiceliteracy.com). These websites help me understand the issues in education policy and help me keep up with the latest ideas to help me as a media specialist, teacher, and mentor.
Rob Mauro Old Mill South MS, Anne Arundel County
BOOK Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton. The author delves into Maryland’s recent past to recount the troubled and troubling history of Crownsville Hospital, which operated from 1911 through 2004 as a segregated psychiatric hospital. She recounts how it was originally built by the inmates themselves and was constantly underfunded, understaffed, and served as an oubliette, into which individuals were never heard from again. Madness reinforces that Maryland’s troubled history with race relations is not that far behind us and is worth remembering to prevent its repetition.
Tracy Papinchock Patterson Mill HS, Harford County
BOOK Bring a little horror into your summer with Harford County author Richard Chizmar. Two of his books, Chasing the Boogeyman and Becoming the Boogeyman, are set in Harford County. Chizmar’s writing style is so realistic, you will have to remind yourself you are reading fiction!
Kathryn Berling Taneytown ES, Carroll County
BOOK The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear, by Kate Moore. As I’ve moved along my journey of union activism, stories of other activists pop out to me, especially stories of female activists! I read the unbelievable story of Elizabeth Packard who was committed to an insane asylum in 1860 because she expressed differing religious views from her husband. She wasn’t insane nor were most of the other female patients. That began her journey advocating for women’s and patients’ rights. Her story is a great reminder that being smart, forward thinking, and outspoken can sometimes scare those who aren’t ready for change.
Tatanisha Love Southwest Academy Magnet School, Baltimore County
BOOK Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond. A research-based guide that provides tools educators can use to create learning environments that affirm all students.
New Kid by Jerry Craft. Graphic novels aren’t just for young learners. A poignant graphic novel about a Black seventh-grader at a private school where he’s one of the few students of color. This is one of my favorite books to inspire discussion within the school community.
MUSIC Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers. An iconic album with songs that promote unity, liberation, and hope—timeless themes for educators. A Seat at the Table by Solange. Soothing and invigorating, powerful and therapeutic all at the same time. Arturo Sandoval y El Tren Latino by Arturo Sandoval. Jazz, salsa, and more. It will give you the energy you need to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Michelle Hinojosa-Melencio Bryant Woods ES, Howard County
BOOK Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey. It was recommended to me by educators in an affinity space for National Board candidates of color group last year. With elementary school media paraeducator budget cuts, I plan to use this book as a guide to reevaluate my professional responsibilities with the firm boundaries I set in place, all while ensuring
I get my rest.
Kayla McShea Governor Thomas Johnson HS, Frederick County
PODCAST Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard is a captivating podcast for adults that blends entertainment with insightful discussions. Dax and co-host Monica conduct engaging interviews, focusing on guests’ life journeys. With topics ranging from magic, grief, teenage emotions, and pop culture, it offers a refreshing mix of humor and thought-provoking content, making it perfect for my daily commute.
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