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Heise Reads & Recommends

A School Librarian Sharing Books & #ClassroomBookADay

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Archives for February 2020

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on The Roots of Rap with Author Carole Boston Weatherford

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on The Roots of Rap with Author Carole Boston Weatherford

February 28, 2020

Today I’m shining the spotlight on  Carole Boston Weatherford, author of #cbadspotlight pick  THE ROOTS OF RAP: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip Hop and also many other wonderful nonfiction titles including By and By: Charles Tindley, the Father of Gospel Music, Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library, Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You, How… Read More

Filed Under: #cbadspotlight, Picture Books

#classroombookaday Recommendations: People Who Made a Difference

February 26, 2020

Each month of this school year I am getting a chance to share a themed list of 20 recommended picture book titles for #CLASSROOMBOOKADAY read alouds in partnership with Follett Classroom. Each booklist is accompanied by a blog post explaining more in depth my thoughts in creating the list and why I chose those specific titles. One of the great… Read More

Filed Under: #ClassroomBookADay, Other, Picture Books, Recommended Reads, Themed Booklists for Follett

#classroombookaday & Responsibility in Book Selection

#classroombookaday & Responsibility in Book Selection

February 17, 2020

Due to some disheartening comments in the #classroombookaday Facebook group related to sharing picture books with trans characters & pushback on racism with anthropomorphic monkeys, I felt the need to clarify a few things about my stance on book selection related to this initiative. I shared screenshots on Twitter and was asked to make it a blog post also for… Read More

Filed Under: #ClassroomBookADay, Other

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on My Papi Has a Motorcycle with Author Isabel Quintero & Illustrator Zeke Peña

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on My Papi Has a Motorcycle with Author Isabel Quintero & Illustrator Zeke Peña

February 12, 2020

Today I’m shining the spotlight on #cbadspotlight pick  My Papi Has a Motorcycle, with author Isabel Quintero & illustrator Zeke Peña  A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people… Read More

Filed Under: #cbadspotlight, #ClassroomBookADay, Other, Picture Books

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on The Proudest Blue with Author S.K. Ali

February #cbadspotlight – Spotlight on The Proudest Blue with Author S.K. Ali

February 3, 2020

Today I’m shining the spotlight on  S.K. Ali, author of #cbadspotlight pick  THE PROUDEST BLUE A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school–and two sisters on one’s first day of hijab–by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be… Read More

Filed Under: #cbadspotlight, #ClassroomBookADay, Other, Picture Books

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Views expressed within these pages are personal & do not represent that of my employer.

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Latest Resources

Instagram Posts

School's out for summer & the weather was perfect School's out for summer & the weather was perfect for reading outside this weekend. Couldn't resist choosing this YA romantasy touted as "Taylor Swift's 'Vigilante Sh*t' meets The Gilded Age" for my first summer break read!

#GildedInVengeance #LibraryLife #bookaday #HeiseReads
Finding moments of joy where I can. There are two Finding moments of joy where I can. There are two days left of this school year. A year that started with sitting in the corner crying due to the overwhelm of the massive task ahead of us to get ready for the first day upon walking in & seeing the state of the library after summer renovation work. A year of ups & downs & all arounds. All the way to today when we had the giddy joy of our brand new booktrucks being delivered. They are pretty & sturdy & glide smoothly & elevate the look of the whole library while making our lives easier. Farewell old, dented, wobbly, rusty, beige carts. IYKYK. Bahama blue, turquoise, teal, sundrop, & calming lavender are taking over. Thank you for the colorful options, helpful customer service, & quick response shipping before school ends @demcoinc!!

#LibraryLife
Iris season brings me joy.💜 There's just someth Iris season brings me joy.💜 There's just something about that shade of purple... #nofilter
The new-to-me podcast binge getting me through my The new-to-me podcast binge getting me through my commute these last few weeks of this school year. Thanks for the @everysinglealbumpodcast rec @thereadingzone_!🫶🏻

Thoroughly enjoying the ways in which @noraprinciotti & @nathanchubbard bring entertainment, thoughtfulness, care, & joy to these conversations & deep dives into @taylorswift's discography.
My view for most all of this long weekend - in whi My view for most all of this long weekend - in which I have to redact almost the entirety of the image.😅 #amreading for Caldecott 2026.

#ClassroomBookADay #LibraryLife #HeiseReads
Love this reminder of the power of children's lite Love this reminder of the power of children's literature from the introduction in Show & Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration! Reading it this weekend to continue building background knowledge for my work on the Caldecott Committee this year. 

"In this regard, we truly suffer from an embarrassment of riches. Children's books have never looked better or been more
important. They are one of the few quiet places left where a child can go to be alone, and to travel worlds past, present, and future. They are often the first place children discover poetry and art, honor and loyalty, right and wrong, sadness and hope. And it is there between the pages that children discover the power of their own imaginations. They are indeed a dress rehearsal for life."

#ClassroomBookADay #LibraryLife #KidLit #HeiseReads
Found this @taylorswift bio mis-shelved in the "my Found this @taylorswift bio mis-shelved in the "mythical creatures" bin. 😂 And I'm not even mad about it.🫶🏻

#LibraryLife #TaylorSwift
His & Hers homemade pizza halves. Tasty benefits o His & Hers homemade pizza halves.
Tasty benefits of the husband getting more serious about his meat grinding / sausage making hobby!
Not pictured: brats & burgers & breakfast sausage, oh my!
My favorite crabtree is flowering & the sun was sh My favorite crabtree is flowering & the sun was shining.
Refreshed & feeling my best.💉 Stopped in for on Refreshed & feeling my best.💉
Stopped in for one of the few things that helps limit my migraines & tmj pain (with some extra perks) yesterday. 
Thank you @refreshedby_injectorjess for always taking such good care!! 🫶🏻
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