I am constantly looking for the recommendations I give and the books I share with students and educators to be culturally and racially inclusive. So I was thrilled to discover a new publisher when they reached out to ask if I’d be interested in a copy of one of their picture books to review. Bharat Babies is an indie publishing… Read More
Archives for 2018
#NCTE18 #classroombookaday Presentation
I was thrilled to be able to bring #classroombookaday to NCTE this year, especially with some amazing educators who discussed their different angles on how they have implemented it at their schools at roundtables, paired with incredible authors/illustrators talking about the value of picture books for all ages. Although I can’t recreate those conversations for you, I can at least share… Read More
My #NCTE18 #BuildYourStack #classroombookaday Picture Book Recommendations
I was honored to be asked to be a part of the debut year of Build Your Stack presentations at NCTE18 in Houston. It was a lot of fun, and a bit of a challenge, deciding which books to share in a 20 minute session in the exhibit hall. I focused on some new favorite picture book titles for #classroombookaday… Read More
Getting to Know Animals through Picture Books
Every so often I’ll read a picture book that instantly makes me think of a bunch of other picture books that would make a good connected text set. When it happens with a topic that is both engaging to kids and also connected to curriculum concepts they may encounter, even better. When I read How Do You Take a Bath? (out… Read More
#classroombookaday + #GRA18 Companion Text Sets
What Pernille Ripp has created in the Global Read Aloud is awesome. And, since I know many #classroombookaday educators are participating in both, I wanted to share some recommendations for picture book companions to tie-in with the GRA titles. *If you’re new to Global Read Aloud, Pernille has a blog post FAQ with video introduction. *If you’re new to #classroombookaday,… Read More
Picture Book Recommendations: First/Native Nations
I used to teach at the Indian Community School of Milwaukee (ICS). My four years there were a time of intense personal & professional growth for me, and being invited to be a part of that community was incomparable. I was familiar with some traditions of Tribal Nations prior to working there for two main reasons: my grandparents lived in… Read More
When Cultural Appropriation Ruins the Rest of the Book
I don’t read books to pick them apart. I read them to enjoy and figure out which ones will work for, and connect with, the students I serve, and to recommend to other educators. But that doesn’t mean I can read without a critical lens. In fact, it’s a requirement. In the quest to provide more diverse representation in literature,… Read More
Cover Reveal: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp
Perhaps you’ve read this book? (And if not, you should – and share it with your students for #classroombookaday!) Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. But, stars are for good readers. Stars are for understanding words, and for saying them out loud. Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library… Read More