Ed. Magazine On My Bookshelf Professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Ed.D.'72, shares the books that she is reading for pleasure. Posted January 8, 2015 By Lory Hough Currently reading: Even though I rarely read more than one book at a time, in the last few weeks, I have returned to three books. On the eve of my mother’s 100th birthday, I have been reading Balm In Gilead, the biography I wrote about her. Wanting to honor the 50th anniversary of the Mississippi Freedom Summer, I dove back into Taylor Branch’s Parting the Waters, the magisterial first volume of his Martin Luther King trilogy. And I have revisited Still Alice, the beautifully written, evocative, and luminous first novel by neuroscientist Lisa Genova about a Harvard professor’s descent into Alzheimer’s. Reading to my children and now to my grandchildren: Our bedtime ritual begins with two books, one old favorite and the other something new, followed by a couple of songs I sing to help them find sleep. Some of the classics enjoyed by both generations: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, Snowy Day, Whistle for Willie, Where the Wild Things Are, Tar Beach. Books education students should read: These three foundational texts are close to the top of my long list of essential readings: John Dewey’s Art As Experience, W. E. B. DuBois’ Souls of Black Folks, Richard Kluger’s Simple Justice. Reading rituals: My reading rituals are seasonal. In the fall and winter, I like to curl up at night on the couch in front of the fire at our lakehouse in New Hampshire. In the spring and summer, I love to read in the very early morning on the screen porch overlooking the lake as I watch the sunrise.Childhood reading: I do not remember reading much on my own beyond what was required at school until I was about 11 or 12. (I was someone who much preferred to write than to read; I began keeping a journal and writing short stories when I was eight.) My first memory of being totally absorbed in a big “chapter book” was Marian Anderson’s biography, My Lord What A Morning. She was my heroine; I loved her amazing courage, her astounding voice, and her grace.Next up: I will tackle Andrew Solomon’s imposing and powerful Far From the Tree: Children and the Search for Identity. Ed. Magazine The magazine of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles Ed. Magazine Book Bans and the Librarians Who Won't Be Hushed How educators are speaking out in response to recent — and increasing — book bans Usable Knowledge How to Sustain Black Educators New book emphasizes need to advance beyond workforce diversity efforts focused purely on recruitment and retention Ed. Magazine Making Americans An excerpt from the new book about immigrant education by Jessica Lander, Ed.M.’15