Books in the Spotlight: Running!

Sometimes CMLE will highlight several books that have some factor in common. We hope they will give you ideas for your collection, or influence an activity, lesson plan, or display!

The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in Duluth was a lot of fun!

Running can be a great way to stay in shape, improve your mental health, or just a way to participate in fun events! Of course, there are lots of awesome books out there that incorporate running, so we thought we would share a few of our favorites:

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
“Equal parts training log, travelogue, and reminiscence, this revealing memoir covers his four-month preparation for the 2005 New York City Marathon and takes us to places ranging from Tokyo’s Jingu Gaien gardens, where he once shared the course with an Olympian, to the Charles River in Boston among young women who outpace him.”

The Runner by Cynthia Voigt
“Bullet Tillerman runs. He runs to escape the criticism of his harsh, unforgiving father. He runs to numb the pain of his mother’s inability to express her love. He is the star of the school track team, but he isn’t a team man and doesn’t want to be. Bullet runs for himself.”

 

The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances by Matthew Inman
“This is not just a book about running. It’s a book about cupcakes. It’s a book about suffering. It’s a book about gluttony, vanity, bliss, electrical storms, ranch dressing, and Godzilla. It’s a book about all the terrible and wonderful reasons we wake up each day and propel our bodies through rain, shine, heaven, and hell.”

Do you like running, and want to share your interest with young readers or students? This list from Outdoor Nation is full of great suggestions! And if you are interested in learning more about running with kids, Runner’s World has you covered with these resources.