MRA Café-Coffee and Conversations
Welcome to the August 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.
August Reading Challenge
The Boyden Library (click here for more information) has provided the following August reading challenge book list! How many can you read this month?
Call for Submissions
MRA Today - a short, practitioner-focused spring publication with short articles related to the selected theme aimed at stimulating conversations around a current topic. MRA Today launches in Spring. Look for submission deadlines shared in the late fall as we lead up to the annual conference. The editors look for practitioner-focused articles or classroom connections that apply to the PK-12 classroom. Word count: 1,500 - 2,500 For more information visit here.
2026 MRA Conference Corner
THANK YOU
We would like to thank everyone who submitted a proposal for MRA’s 55th Annual Conference, Literacy and Learning: Connecting Classrooms and Communities. We appreciate the time, thought, and expertise you shared.
The Conference Committee will be reviewing all submissions shortly. We are excited by the range of ideas and perspectives represented and look forward to putting together a program that highlights innovative approaches to literacy and learning.
We are also pleased to share that 2026 Keynote Speakers have accepted, and we are enthusiastic about the energy and inspiration they will bring to our conference.. With your contributions, we are confident this will be an engaging and impactful conference.
Thank you again for your commitment to literacy and your support of the Massachusetts Reading Association.
MRA Scholarship Spotlight
Do you have a plan for conducting ACTION RESEARCH in your educational setting?
Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship
The MRA invites you to submit a proposal for the Sylvia D. Brown Scholarship. Proposals are due on January 31, 2026, and must be submitted electronically as a Word document to the Sylvia D. Brown committee chair. A three-to-five-page detailed description of the Action research project must be submitted. At least one of the participants in the project must be a member of MRA. Each participant must submit a Participant’s Information Form and a professional resume.
A sample proposal, information brochure and forms are available on the MRA website: https://www.massreading.org/sylvia-d-brown-scholarship
Upcoming Events and Programming
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Enjoy a fun new summertime promotion, visit the Valley's wonderful bookstores, and enter for a chance to win big!
Get your passport stamped at each of the 7 participating bookstores and be entered to win a prize worth $350 in books in the form of a $50 gift card to each bookstore.
When: July 1st - August 31st
The participating bookstores are:
Amherst Books (8 Main Street, Amherst, MA),
Booklink Booksellers (150 Main Street, Northampton MA)
Book Moon Books (86 Cottage Street, Easthampton, MA),
Broadside Bookshop (247 Main Street, Northampton, MA),
Carle Museum Bookshop (125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA),
High Five Books (141 N. Main St. Florence, MA),
Odyssey Bookshop (9 College Street, South Hadley, MA)
How: Pick up a passport at any of the participating bookstores or print one at home by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/pvbc25.
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Join us for story time with Jacky Lamenzo Sinha, author of Addy Wants to Fit In and owner of Lemon House Publishing.
Addy, an ant who is a very picky eater, often feels left-out at dinner time. She desperately wants to try the foods that her friends and family eat, but has a hard time. Join her to see how she finds the courage to try new food!
Learn more about Jackie, her book, and her Children’s Writing Courses: https://lemonhousepublishing.com/addy
Jackie will be hosting a writing course with our neighbors at @bloomandgrowcreative this fall, starting on 9/17. Learn more here: https://lemonhousepublishing.com/enrollment.
Jacky will read her book and can answer questions about writing a children’s book, as well as any questions about her upcoming writing course for kids.
Tickets for this event are free, but we ask that all guests register in advance, as we have limited spots available.
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Description
Join us to act out a book together!
Drama lovers and book lovers are both welcome!
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact the Children's Room at lkoenig@bpl.org or call (617) 859-2476. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website.
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Hummingbird Books is prouud to announce our second, annual local childrrn's authors fair on August 23, 2025.
From 12 pm to 2 pm, we will showcase the talent in our area of more than 20+ writers of picture books, middle-grade and YA, see line up below. More added all the time!
Local vendors will also be joining including Meet and Greet with Cookie Mouse (from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie), face-painting by Festini, bookmark crafting by Creation Station and a giant coloring page.
Line Up:
Board Books and Picture Books:
Christine Devane, author of ‘Elephant Beach’
Riley Kinzie, author of ‘Big Loving Feelings’
Anna Housley Juster, author of ‘How To Train Your Amygdala’ in English and Spanish
Diane Davis, author of ‘The Motivation Queen’
Ben Gelber, author of ‘No Nuts In The Charoset’
Gia Susi, author of ‘When The World Feels A Little Scary’
Arielle Schwartz, author of ‘Iggy The Incredible Ice cream’
Christopher Minor, author of ‘Lily’s Grooves’
Katie Slivensky, author of ‘I Rock: A Geology Tale’
Vivan Zottola, author of ‘Cami Queen Of The Neighborhood Goes To The Moon’
Zeba McGibbon, author of ‘Trivia The Thoughtful Turtle’
Nancy Tupper Ling, author of ‘Hearts In My Pocket’
Christine Evans, author of ‘Breathe In, Breathe Out, It’ll Work’
Laurie Trumble Davis, author of ‘The Very Patient Gus Davis’
Jonathan Ronzio, author of ‘Sprocesses’
Middle-grade Books:
Lisa Stringfellow, author of ‘Comb Of Wishes’
Josh Roberts, author of ‘Willow Cove’
Bonnie Shao, author of ‘The Xia Stories: Once In A Lifetime’
Esty Schachter, author of ‘Anya’s Echoes’
Alex Thayer, author of ‘Happy, Sad, & Everything True’
Alison McGrath, author of ’Walter And The Worry Test’
YA:
Jason Colpitts, author of ‘The Room of Mirrors’
There's still time to sign up, see www.hummingbirdbooks.com
Join Our Committees!
Committees support the mission of MRA to promote literacy throughout the state for all learners. Committee Chairs serve as advisors to the MRA Board, providing recommendations regarding programs, projects, and/or matters of interest to the organization. All MRA members are encouraged to become involved in an MRA Committee as committee members or chairs. If you are interested in joining an MRA Committee, please email mraadambrieskeulenski@gmail.com or visit, https://www.massreading.org/committees and email the chair of the committee to express your interest today! We would love to have you join and share your ideas!
List of Committees:
Adolescent Literacy
Budget & Finance
Celebrate Literacy
Donald L Landry Award
Exemplary Reading Award
Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity
Families & Early Childhood Literacy
Minigrants
Multilingual Learners
Publications
Sister Madelon honor Council
Studies and Research
Sylvia Brown Scholarship
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.
