• Lifestyle

    Diversity Resources

    There’s a lot of talk about diversity in children’s literature, but it may be difficult to actually find information.  I’ve found a few valuable resources (I’m sure there are a bunch more!) that make finding information a whole lot easier! 1.) We Need Diverse Books An official campaign that began…

  • Lifestyle

    2014 CYBILS Awards

    The 2014 CYBILS – the Children and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards were announced on February 14th – a perfect day for some book love!  And because it was the weekend, a few days got away from me, but I’m finally posting about it today!  For a list of all…

  • Activities

    3rd & 4th Grade Book Club

    We don’t have any programs this week which allows me to focus on my program planning for the next month or so. One of my programs, a third and fourth grade book discussion group will meet in the middle of February. I’ll admit, I find it difficult to find books…

  • Lists

    NYPL's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2014

    I’m currently working my way through the New York Public Library’s Children’s Books 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2014.  I’ve read a number of the books already, but I figured it would be a great start to the new year to work towards these 100 books.  I’m almost finished…

  • Reviews

    Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade

    I’ve finally begun working on my New Year’s resolution to find more books for beginning chapter book readers (i.e. early elementary school).  Princess Posey definitely fits the bill – in length of chapters and the book in its entirety, in vocabulary, and in content.  The first in the series is…

  • Lifestyle

    What Comes After Easy Readers?

    Transitional Books!  Transitional books are (usually) a series of books that you may be familiar with that are around 100 pages or less with short chapters and often some pictures throughout the book.  The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne is a perfect example of a transitional book. …

  • Lifestyle

    It’s Never Too Early to Think About the Newbery Award

    In recent years, I’ve begun following the Newbery Award more closely.  It’s extremely interesting because the Newbery Committee does not provide the public with a short list of books that they are looking at for receiving the award, but there are plenty of blogs circling the blogosphere that offer their own opinions…

  • Reviews

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

    I have been waiting for December 1st to be able to post this book.  This has got to be one of my all time favorite Christmas stories – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by, Barbara Robinson.  This story was published in 1972 and it shows if you read it now,…

  • Activities

    Read-Aloud Program for Elementary Age Kids

    Probably, my fondest memory of school was being read-aloud to by any number of teachers that I was lucky enough to have from elementary school all the way through high school.  Not only my teachers, but my parents also read aloud to all of my siblings and me.  Now, that in…