Choice, choices, oh so many choices!

The newest issue of the children’s literary magazine I co-run is out, and it’s on the theme “Choices.” The title of this post comes from a brilliant poem written by eleven year old Bethany Hernandez–my first thought when I read it was, “This is perfect!”–and the cover image, below, is by the same person! The issue is full of adult and kid perspectives on choices, has an author interview, and activity pages. My daughter, Abigail, has a comic in the issue as well. I do hope you’ll read, enjoy, and share with the kids in your life! Also, encourage them to watch out for our next sub call and send us their own writing and/or art.

Pastel watercolor painting of a white gate with an open pathway through the center
“Gate” by Bethany Hernandez, age 11
Click here to read Nimblewitlit Issue 3: Choices

This issue on choices is meant to be read in tandem with the most recent issue of our adult-focused literary magazine, Epistemic Literary, on “Agency vs. Determinism.” Do all those choices you make matter? Do they make a difference in your life, or is fate the guiding force? We’d love for you to explore with us!

Tiny person in a huge maze of life decisions, with a single entry and exit. The maze is held by an omnipotent being in the clouds. Represents the tension between a person's free-will at the micro level and their inevitable fate at the macro level.
“Choose Wisely” by Andrew Roma
Click to read Epistemic Literary Issue 9: Agency vs. Determinism

I also thought it might be fun to talk about kids books that center around choices — some favorites that came to mind are “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss, and “Would You Rather be a Bullfrog?”, also by Dr. Seuss but writing as Theo leSeig.

Do you have any favorites? How about books for older kids? Please share!

Take action for Banned Books Week

Image of rippling water. Overlaid text says: "No Books, No life," "FREADOM," and "Read Banned Books." Also overlaid on the water is a stack of books, a picture of a dog and cat reading a book, and a cartoon monster.

“Take action” can sound really intimidating, but my ten-year-old and I beg to differ. In honor of Banned Books Week (October 4-10), she created the image above–all of her own accord–for me to share, AND wore her “Read Banned Books” t-shirt to soccer practice on Monday. It’s really that simple!

What is Banned Books Week and why should you care? From Bannedbooksweek.org: “Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools…By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.” Some books are banned for seemingly silly reasons (think I Need a New Butt and Itty Bitty Kittycorn), but many are driven by bigotry, fear, and a desire to suppress truth (think Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, or MAUS). Bannedbooksweek.org goes on: “The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice.”

AND – it’s getting more and more prevalent. Check out these numbers from Authors Against Book Bans:

Authors Against Book Bans logo. 11,982 books ban in public schools nationwide during the 2025-2026 school year. 7,370 unique titles were banned, over 4,500 of which were not previously recorded in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans. 74% increase in total instances of book bans from the 2023-2024 school year. Data from PEN America Index of School Book Bans, July 1-20250June 30, 2026

I believe in giving my kids (guided) access to knowledge, and I believe in our first amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression. In my home we believe in the power of knowledge and truth, and that books are an invaluable tool in attaining and sustaining these goods. We believe in the Freedom to Read and support this week’s efforts to LET BOOKS BE.

If you are looking for more ways to support the freedom to read and join the fight against book banning, here are a few excellent resources:

All of these organizations (and more) have email lists you can join for free to stay up to date on what’s going on in the world of censorship and book banning, and all could use your support to keep doing their work.

Let me know if you’re doing anything for Banned Book Week, or anytime, and share some banned books you love!

Summer Reading, Part II: Feelings and Classics

Picking up where we left off, it’s time to talk about what I assigned my new fourth grader to read this summer. I started the summer with just one book I wanted her to read, figuring one book plus the typing program I wanted her to do and the Italian language lessons she wanted to do (via Mango, free through the library!) would be plenty. But she asked for books and book projects so I obliged.

Feelings

Why feelings? Because tweens have a LOT of them. I worked through this book with my oldest the year I homeschooled the kids, which was also fourth grade. Truth be told, we haven’t quite finished but we’re almost through it. We read some together, she read some on her own, and she did the exercises in a notebook. I’m not sure whether it’s helped her, but it’s helped me understand what she thinks about and how she sees herself and that is useful info as a parent. At the very least it’s opened up some conversation. The book:

Classics

As a starting point, we got out the literature curriculum I used with my oldest when I homeschooled fourth grade and looked through the book list. We ended up with:

I had all kinds of activities we could’ve done, but we mostly didn’t. What we did do: she did some of the homeschool curriculum reading comprehension questions for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory so I could gauge what she retained/understood, we (mostly she) made cabbage soup for dinner one night (like the Buckets ate for every meal), and she watched the movies for each book. I think there was some drawing of spiders and maybe Templeton the rat in there too. I had the idea of making donuts because it seems like everyone in Charlotte’s Web is eating donuts for breakfast all the time but we just ran out of summer before I had the energy envelope to do anything like that. We did have some informal conversations about the differences between the movies (particularly for Charlie and Chocolate Factory) and the books; Charlotte’s Web actually is very very close to the book.

Though I’ve seen both movies (the Gene Wilder as Wonka version, of course) many times, I’m not sure I had actually read either book all the way through so I welcomed the opportunity to do so. Then I learned a little about E. B. White (did you know he’s the same White as The Elements of Style?) and read The Trumpet of the Swan to myself in honor of his birthday (July 11). I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as good as Charlotte’s Web or Stuart Little.

That was it. Next time we’re gonna talk about CHICKENS. UNUSUAL chickens…