• Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Read Alouds

    Read Aloud

    Another fun reading list to pull together, I included some of my most favorite books that make great read alouds for families. If you don’t already take time every day to read together as a family, start a new habit by selecting an adventure story from the list and begin…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Quintessential

    Quintessential

    The letter “Q” is always a tricky one when it comes to the A to Z Challenge. But this year, the word quintessential came to me right away and worked out perfectly for my adventurous readers theme. I’m using the definition of quintessential to mean classics, so I’m sharing some…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Picture Books

    This was such a fun list to pull together and one that was hard to stop at just twelve picture books! There are so many adventurous picture books in the world, but I controlled myself to offer you just twelve titles that make great read alouds for storytime, classrooms, and…

  • Activities

    Storytime Theme: Sharks

    shark header

    I’ve made it my focus this year to try and create more storytime themes that I should have done years ago. A perfect example? Sharks! Now, I have a dolphins and sharks lesson plan from a few years ago, but there are far too many shark picture books out there…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Outdoor

    outdoor

    This was probably one of the easiest lists to pull together because there are so many adventure titles that just inherently take place outdoors as survival stories. I also included some that aren’t quite as intense and take place at summer camp as well. And that’s why I like sharing…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Nonfiction

    nonfiction

    I will forever implore readers to try nonfiction because children’s nonfiction has changed drastically in the last 20-30 years. I remember growing up that nonfiction was extremely dry, text heavy, and if you were lucky you’d get a few pen and ink drawings. Now, nonfiction is engaging and accessible for…

  • Activities

    Storytime Theme: Sand

    sand storytime header

    This is a perfect summer storytime lesson plan for toddlers and preschoolers and would work just as well in a library storytime as well as a preschool or childcare center. And if you’re a parent or caregiver, these books, songs, rhymes, and activities work just as well for families to…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Mystery

    Mystery

    Another genre that I enjoy reading, today’s book list is full of middle grade and young adult mysteries. With books taking place around the world and across time, readers are sure to find a book that speaks to them. I especially like mysteries that have a really great puzzle aspect…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Legends

    Legends

    Some of my favorite tales are those that feel traditional in some respects, but are in other ways. I love fractured fairy tales and stories that read like the legends I grew up with but are steeped in the history and storytelling of places that I am most unfamiliar with.…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Kooky

    Kooky

    This list of books was one of the most fun to pull together this month! It’s full of “kooky” titles a term I use with the utmost respect. I love to read books that are so far out there, I wonder, “How did the author ever come up with this?”…