Kids Need to Read welcomes Teri Lesesne, affectionately known as the Goddess of Young Adult Literature, to the Board of Directors.
Teri S. Lesesne (rhymes with insane) is a Professor at Sam Houston State University where she teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in young adult and children’s literature in the Department of Library Science. She is a 10 year veteran of the middle school English classroom, having taught in Alief I.S.D. Teri coordinates an annual YA conference for her university, now in its 19th year. A frequent speaker at conferences, Teri also visits schools each year to tell students about good books to read. She presents one day YA seminars across the country when she is not teaching. Her latest publication is Making the Match: The Right Book for the Right Reader at the Right Time, Grades 4-12 from Stenhouse Publishers. Look for her second book in a couple of years (tentative title: Naked Reading). Teri’s columns have appeared in a variety of journals including: Signal, The Journal of Reading, English in Texas, The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and The ALAN Review. Currently, she writes the YA review column for Voices from the Middle and an author interview column for Teacher Librarian. She serves on the Advisory Board for The ALAN Review, The Reading Teacher, English Journal, Voices from the Middle, and VOYA. She serves as co-chair of the Middle Level Section Steering Committee of NCTE. In her spare time, Teri is the proud grandmother of three charming granddaughters and three handsome grandsons. Teri is a licensed motorcyclist who hopes to find some time soon to continue exploring the back roads of Texas on her “hog.”
Parents and teachers looking for excellent young adult book recommendations will enjoy Teri’s Live Journal blog, “Pearls from the Goddess.” Kids Need to Read is thrilled to have Teri Lesesne join in our efforts to bring great children’s books to communities in need.
