If you’re looking to add to your summer TBR stacks (and let’s be honest, if you’re reading this blog, you likely are), below are some ideas on where to start. These are some of my favorite recent reads I’d recommend for teachers to share with students. Picture Books Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima Flowers for Sarajevo by John McCutcheon,… Read More
Three YA Books You Need to Read
There are some books that strike harder than others. Some that leave a lasting impact that has you thinking about them days, weeks, months, years beyond when you finish reading them. Books that just won’t let go. They haunt you, make you see things differently, affect your actions, push you to look around you and recognize the truth of what’s… Read More
Repost: When Tragedy Happens, I Turn to Books
*I wrote this post a year ago after the tragic mass murder in Orlando. I’m reposting it today, one year after the senseless killings, in the hope that it will help us all think about ways to grow more empathy in our classrooms and our world. Design by Ashley Heafy. When tragedy happens, I turn to books. When huge nationwide… Read More
Picture Book Favorites of 2016 – Booktalk Video
For Picture Book Month back in November, I booktalked some of my favorite new picture books and shared via video. In case you missed it over on Lit Perks. Although my job situation has changed, and I’m now an independent contractor doing literacy consulting through BALB Literacy Consulting, I didn’t want you to miss out on some of these great… Read More
2015 Books I’m Buying as Gifts this Season
I have been woefully neglectful of my blog this year, but have been wanting to share some of my favorite 2015 books. In the spirit of the season, I’m giving recommendations for titles that could make great gifts. Each title is one I am gifting to someone this winter. ~~~~~~~Picture Books~~~~~~~ TO THE SEA by Cale Atkinson Sometimes Tim feels… Read More
2015 #pb10for10 (Picture Book 10 for 10)
For the past couple of years, I’ve been participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event to celebrate picture books that are must haves for my classroom to share with students. Plus, I love seeing what books everyone else has on their lists-I always find new books to check out. This past school year, inspired by Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday for teachers… Read More
Busy Reading, New Role (Chair)
I’ve been busy reading, very busy reading, but there hasn’t been as much time to blog about the books individually because of an exciting new role I’ve taken on and the reading I’ve been doing related to it. It became official this weekend! The Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA) Children’s Literature Committee is a group of WI education professionals who… Read More
Some More of What I’ve Been Reading Lately
A busy start to the school year meant not much blogging. It always surprises me even how little reading I get done in the first two weeks of a new school year, but I’ve been getting back into it. These are the books I’ve been reading since I got back to start working in my classroom mid-August. Almost all of… Read More