• Lifestyle

    2017 Nerdies Nominations – open now!

    The 2017 Nerdies Nomination form is officially open! Make sure to nominate your favorite titles of the year in the following categories: Picture Books: Fiction Picture Books: Nonfiction Early Readers/ Chapter Books Graphic Novels Poetry and Novels in Verse MG/YA Nonfiction Middle Grade Fiction Young Adult Fiction Per the Nerdy…

  • Reviews

    Picture Book Month: Dogs

    This title is all about expression, and if you don’t use expression, this will be one of the most boring books you read… because the only word throughout the whole story is “ball.” The adorable dog on the cover loves playing with his ball. He waits (not so patiently) for…

  • Lists

    (Unofficial) Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Titles for Shark Week

    I’ve had a number of kids interested in shark books – everything from picture books (for those who frighten easily) to nonfiction titles that show rows of teeth and talk about sharks as apex predators and an important part of the ecosystem. So while everyone watches Michael Phelps race a…

  • Lists

    2016 CYBILS Awards

    The awards have been announced! The CYBILS (Children’s and Young Adult Blogger’s Literary Awards) are announced on February 14th of each year. The award began in 2009 to “recognize the children’s and young adult authors and illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and popular appeal.” The categories include: Audiobooks…

  • Lists

    It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/9/17

    I went through a bunch of picture books this week as I’m trying to go through all the Nerdies winners – I’ve finished all the picture book and easy reader/chapter books. This week included: The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation by Shannon Hale I love this series – a…

  • Lists

    2016 CYBILS Finalists

    Looking for more to add to your TBR list? Look not further than the 2016 CYBILS Finalists. Over the thirteen different categories, there were 1,163 books nominated.  99.7% of which were read by at least one reviewer while 98.6% were read by more at least two reviewers.  That is a…

  • Lists

    Building a Home Library

    Check out the Children’s Book Council’s 2016 Building a Home Library booklist created by the  ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee and the  ALA-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, of which I am a part of.  These booklists are created every other year and include not only classic stories, but newly published material…

  • Lists

    It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 1/11/2016

    I participated in my first ever Bout of Books this past week, which means my reading amount is much higher than usual!  But, I got through a lot of books that have been on my un-official TBR for a really long time!  And I’ve found that there are a lot…

  • Lists

    ALA Youth Media Awards 2016

    Wow!  I’m not even sure where to start.  I got up extra early, skipped my gym workout and got to work by about 7:15 so I could listen to SLJ’s pre-game show before the live webcast of the Youth Media Awards at 8:00am.It was so worth it.  I know everyone…

  • Lifestyle

    Top 10 Tuesday: Resolutions I Have For 2016

    I have ten resolutions and now am slightly overwhelmed, but many are attainable and I’m really excited to start 2016 off on the right foot!  Overall, I resolve to rock. Check out my Top Ten Tuesday: Resolutions I Have For 2016. Blog Goals Grow a larger readership. I have a lot of…