MRA Café-Coffee and Conversations
Welcome to the February updates of the Massachusetts Reading Association. MRA Café is a monthly publication that connects our members, inspires joyful collegiality, shares insights into literacy education, and celebrates success stories.
February Reading Challenge
Brighter Day Press (click here for more information) has provided the following February reading challenge book list! Take the challenge and read each book for each day in February!
Strategic Planning
MRA members convened for a strategic planning session on Saturday, January 17 to reflect on the past year’s successes and to collaboratively set priorities for the year ahead. The meeting provided dedicated time to reaffirm MRA’s mission and unique value while engaging members in focused discussions around professional development, research, publications, advocacy, and organizational structure. Through structured working groups and whole-group dialogue, MRA members identified areas for growth, refined existing goals, and proposed concrete action steps to guide the association’s work. The session emphasized shared leadership, member engagement, and alignment with statewide literacy needs as MRA moves forward with its strategic plan.
Huge thank you to Nancy Meagher for opening her home to us!
MRA 2026 Children’s Literature Award Recipient
Click here to view the Full Schedule of Events, Fees, and Registration Information:
Donald L. Landry Student Awards- Due Soon!
The Donald L. Landry Student Awards were established to encourage students to become active members of professional organizations, and in particular MRA. The award was named after Donald Landry to honor his many years of service to MRA as President and Executive Treasurer. Student Applicants must be enrolled in an Educational Program in MA at the undergraduate or graduate levels and write an essay, responding to a prompt, that is scored by a committee. Application deadline extended to February 20, 2026.
Recipients receive
Full Conference Registration, meals and lodging
An Annual MRA Student Membership
Submission information may be found here: Donald L. Landry Awards or you can email: Dr. Marlene Correia (mcorreiamra@gmail.com).
Recommend the Next Honor Reading Society
Email mraabrieskeulenski@gmail.com or susanflis47@gmail.com to recommend a college or university that would be a great place to start the next reading honor society chapter in Massachusetts!
Upcoming Events and Programming
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Join us for storytime with local authors Janet Costa Bates and Nancy Tupper Ling! Janet will be read her book, “Time for Bed, Old House”, and Nancy will read her book , “Hearts in My Pocket”.
Time
11:00am - 11:30am (EST)
Location
Ten Trees Books
22 North Main Street
Natick, Massachusetts United States
TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE
Published by Candlewick Press
Isaac is excited about having a sleepover at Grandpop’s house, but he’s a little nervous about being away from home for the first time. Luckily, his knowing Grandpop tells him it’s not quite time to go to bed yet—first, he needs Isaac’s help in putting the house to bed. TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE will help your family embrace a new nighttime tradition.
A fine, uplifting intergenerational story of literacy, literature, and homemade love.
Hearts in My Pocket
Leilah misses the time when her mom and dad were together. Ever since they divorced, her world and her heart feel split in two. She explores the city with Dad and walks Pepper at the park with Mom. She and Dad watch fireworks on the balcony, and Mom helps her make snowmen in the front yard. As Leilah moves back and forth between her two worlds, she wonders if her heart will ever feel whole again. Everything is just so different. Until one day she realizes that love is all around her, and the love her parents share for her will always stay the same.
Register to join on our Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-storytime-with-authors-janet-costa-bates-and-nancy-tupper-ling-tickets-1980712106229?aff=oddtdtcreator -
CONTACT:
Ashley Houston-King
MRA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
EVENT:
Massachusetts Reading Association DEI Book Club (February 2026)
Join Ashley Houston-King on Monday February 9th at 7pm to discuss the incredible work on James Baldwin via Zoom! Feel free to invite others! Email aahk@bu.edu for the link!
$0
February 9th at 7pm via Zoom
Please email: aahk@bu.edu to receive the Zoom link!
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Free Event!
Join local author Carla Marrero in sharing her award winning picture books.
Date
February 14, 2026
Time
11:00am - 12:00pm (EST)
Location
Once Upon a Bookstore
418 Quequechan Street
Fall River, Massachusetts United States
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Time
10:00am - 10:30am (EST)
Location
High Five Books
141 North Main Street
Northampton, Massachusetts United States
Join High Five Books and local author Katrina Goldsaito for a celebratory launch of her new picture book, WHEN CHERRY BLOSSOMS FALL, on Saturday, February 21, from 10-10:30am.
ABOUT 'WHEN CHERRY BLOSSOMS FALL'
Little Yuna can’t wait for her great-grandmother’s cherry tree to bloom. She and her hībāchan spend each day outside, watching the tree’s flowers unfurl. But once the tree blooms, the moment is so brief before it loses its petals again—this is what her hībāchan calls mono no aware. It isn’t until her great grandmother—and the petals she loves—are gone that Yuna finally understands what the phrase really means: an awareness of something’s impermanence. -
The Nobscot Reading Council is hosting a Winter Webinar, Literacy Moves Outdoors, on February 24th, with our presenter, Valerie Bang-Jensen.
Payment Information:
• The webinar is free to current members.
o The full membership cost is $ 20 which includes admission to the Winter Webinar and a reduced rate for the Spring Dinner in May. The full membership cost for Students/retirees is $ 15.
o The attendance fee for non-members is...
▪ $ 10.
▪ The student/retiree attendance fee is $ 5.
• Payment Information:
o You can pay with PayPal.
o You can send a check to Pattie Kelley at 4 Kalen Circle, Milford, MA 01757.
The registration link is https://forms.gle/t8ACFLBRn1KhY5BC8
We hope to “see” you at this informative and exciting event.
Thank you for your dedication to literacy. Together, we can ensure every student becomes a confident and capable reader, writer, and learner.
MRA information
The Massachusetts Reading Association is a professional non-profit organization of individuals whose primary purpose is to improve the quality and level of literacy in the state of Massachusetts. The MRA is affiliated with the International Literacy Association (ILA), a worldwide literacy organization. Our Mission The mission of the Massachusetts Reading Association is to promote literacy for all learners through professional development, research, publications, and advocacy.
