I AM truly passionate about kids, books, music, learning, and having fun (as well as a few other things ;-) ).  I do believe that reading to children changes their lives. Forever. In most every way possible. Amen. :-)

So I’m happy as a clam as Children and Youth Librarian at Southern Peaks Public Library in Alamosa, Colorado. Early literacy is a main focus of the library,  the blog, and my outreach programs. But I also do classes on homeschooling, outreach to the Valley’s Spanish-speaking community as well as Storybox Special delivery program to home childcares and work with the homeless prevention program here. I also am an adjunct professor with Emporia State University, teaching the Children’s Services class for their SLIM/MLS program.

I love helping people and it tickles me to death to hook them up with the right resource.  I can be a bit of a rebel in the good sense of the word (I hope), often marching to a different tune. The world’s a wide open, wonderful place to me!

The accent is from growing up in metro-Atlanta (no, it is not a Texas accent).  I’ve also lived in NC, East TN (my favorite until the Valley), NJ, PA, and TX.  We’ve lived in the San Luis Valley of Colorado for over 6 years now and love it!

I’ve homeschooled two boys for as long as they’ve been around; the oldest is a senior at Knox College in IL and the youngest is a 9th grader.  DH is also a humanities professor at the junior college here in the San Luis Valley.

My educational background includes a BA and MA with concentrations in child development, education, and psychology.  I’ve tutored for decades including kids with special needs as well as starting up preschools, teaching piano, working in hospitals, nursing homes, and churches–and those are just the highlights.

In my spare time? I’m learning to knit, I DJ Ballads and Bluegrass at our local public radio station KRZA, I do sustainable vegetable gardening (John Jeavons’ methods), I love genealogy but rarely have the time. And of course, I love to read.

Thanks for reading!

Babette